My friends, the Solemnity of St. Paul, the patron of this Cathedral Church and one of the co-patrons of our diocese, brings us together to recall the dramatic life and amazing contribution of this saint. He was truly a force to be reckoned with. He was one with strong views, and he wasn’t afraid to express them. At the beginning of the mission of Christ, he was oftentimes linked with Peter as if he were a twin: Peter and Paul we often say! The idea of twins seems to be a fascination among the Romans. You will find a lot of twins there, beginning with the founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus. Peter and Paul are easily associated with the founding of the Church in Rome. While it is often said that “all roads lead to Rome,” the opposite is also true.  All roads lead from Rome. The mission of Christ has gone forth to the ends of the earth.

St. Paul, who was known as Saul, encountered Christ in quite a dramatic way – on his way to persecute Christians whom he deemed as a threat to the Jewish faith. He couldn’t stand the idea of change to his deeply held convictions. Nevertheless, that encounter on the road to Damascus changed his life totally and completely. Now he witnesses to the power of Christ – not looking back.

Through his writings – the Epistles or Letters of St. Paul to the early Christian communities being established all over the Eastern Mediterranean basin – we find that early church life was a struggle, too.

He wrote letters of encouragement that we oftentimes hear as a second reading on Sundays. At the same time, he scolded many of the communities for their in- fighting, for their misunderstanding of the message of Christ, and for their misunderstanding of the nature of Christ.

We might say that St. Paul is an ever-present reminder of hope – that even the most difficult resistance to Christ can be broken down, dissolved, and changed by an experience at an unexpected time. He is a reminder that evangelization is the sowing of seeds of the Word of God into a community to remind them that Jesus is the Savior and Lord. It is in Christ that we are justified for “all have sinned and fallen short (or deprived) of the glory of God.” (Rm 3:23) At the same time, we are “citizens of Heaven” (Ph 3:20), passing through this life in bodies that are like “earthen vessels” (2 Cor 4:7), clay pots, in “earthly tents” (2 Cor 5:1), that will give way to the glorious life to which we are destined.

St. Paul is for us a reminder of perseverance in mission because a new life awaits us. May St. Paul guide us in our diocese on mission for Christ to be people and agents of hope and joy! Grace and peace to all!