Daily Gospel Reflection
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January 25, 2025
Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them:
“Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Once upon a time, I was in Finland during a winter storm. For some people, this would be the ideal time to stay inside and read a good book, but for my soul, it provoked a desire to climb a nearby mountain. I left my cabin and hiked for four hours in isolation, with the storm increasing in intensity as I climbed. I was surprised to find a three-sided shelter near the summit, but as I approached the entrance, I was even more surprised to see two women inside who had arrived via snowmobile, dressed in polar furs and drinking hot chocolate.
As we enjoyed being sheltered from the storm, they began to ask many questions, for they were both self-described “pagans” curious about the church, God, and my life as a Catholic priest. We conversed for three hours, then I said goodbye and descended the mountain. Had I not followed this desire to climb a mountain during a snowstorm, would they have heard the Good News?
In today’s gospel, Jesus commands the apostles to “Go into the whole world” to proclaim the Good News. To fulfill this mission, there are some obscure places God needs us to go, and it is not always pious zeal that leads us to these places.
Whether we desire a trip to a football game, have a favorite restaurant we can’t resist, or encounter a Finnish mountain that we must climb, pursuing these desires may lead us to a part of the world that God wants us to be. So long as we are willing to share the gospel in these places, these desires can be used for building up the kingdom.
So desire boldly, because zeal for souls is not the only zeal used by God to bring about the salvation of the whole world.
Prayer
Lord God, today we join the church throughout the world to celebrate the feast of the great apostle to the Gentiles. Called by the risen Christ, Paul no longer lived for himself or his own justice but only for Christ and with Christ. May we who follow in his footsteps never seek to build up ourselves but always give of ourselves in building up the body of believers. Amen.
Saint of the Day

St. Paul has one of the most dramatic and famous conversion stories of all time.
Saul was born a Roman citizen in Tarsus. Saul was a highly educated Jewish man who was trained in classical disciplines such as rhetoric and in the strict observance of Mosaic law. Saul was a zealous Pharisee and had returned to Tarsus before Jesus began his public ministry in Palestine.
In fact, Saul was so zealous about the law that he persecuted Christians because they departed from it in their following of Jesus. He was in the crowd that murdered St. Stephen, the first martyr, and violently persecuted other Christians. He would drag Christians out of their homes, shackle them with chains, and throw them in prison.
He asked permission to round up all the Christians in Damascus and march them, in chains, to Jerusalem as an example. On his way to Damascus, he was surrounded by an intensely bright light from heaven and was struck to the ground. “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me,” a voice called out. “Who are you, sir?” Saul cried out. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9).
Saul was converted at that moment, and the Lord instructed him to go into Damascus, where he would be told what to do. Saul got up, but realized he could not see—he had been struck blind by the vision.
He was led into the city and sheltered there until a Christian named Ananias was told by the risen Lord to find Saul and lay hands on him and heal him. Ananias had heard about this Saul and was reluctant, but followed Jesus’ instructions and laid hands on him. Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes and he regained his sight.
Saul was baptized and changed his name to Paul, and almost immediately began preaching in the synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God. He went on to make missionary journeys through southern Europe and Asia Minor, and converted many—especially among people who were not Jewish. Fourteen of his letters are preserved as part of the New Testament.
Paul was killed in Rome by beheading, the method of execution for Roman citizens, which is why he is often depicted with a sword (as he is with this window in the chapel of Morrissey Hall, shown below). His relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica, including part of the column where he was beheaded. His conversion is depicted in a stained glass window there.

St. Paul, apostle whose encounter with the persecuted Christ changed the course of your life and Christian history—pray for us!