Easter 3C
May 4, 2025
Acts 9:1-20
INTRODUCTION
Now in the third Sunday of Easter, today we encounter some call stories. And one of them should be of particular interest to us at St. Paul’s, because it is the call of St. Paul himself! Except here he is still called Saul (which is his Hebrew name). As you may know, Saul was not such a nice guy, to start with. In fact, he was actively trying to stop the followers of The Way (early Christians). Today’s story shows us the dramatic way in which Saul encounters Jesus on the road to Damascus, which led to him becoming a missionary, planting churches all over Asia and Europe, and writing much of the New Testament. Quite a turnaround!
In John, we will hear of Jesus’ fourth post-resurrection appearance. The disciples, not knowing what else do to, have gone back to what they have always known: fishing. But remember, God isn’t about doing the same ol’ thing, but rather, doing a new thing! So, Jesus meets them on the shore, and calls them anew into his mission. “If you love me,” he tells eager Peter, “feed my sheep,” showing all of us that when we say we love Jesus, it is implied that the expression of this love is in actively loving those in need of care.
These calls exist still for us today – especially for a congregation who calls itself “St. Paul’s Lutheran Church”! So, hear today’s call stories, as well as the other readings, as calls issued also to you, and to our congregation. Let’s listen.
[READ]
Grace to you and peace from our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
When I saw that this week’s lectionary gives us the story of the call of Saul (later known as St. Paul), I knew I wanted to write a sermon that would help us enter into the story of Saul/Paul, and discover how his story can help us tell our own St. Paul’s story.
I immediately realized it might not be too easy because, well, Saul was not known at first for his more appealing attributes. When a story starts with, “Saul, still breathing threats and murder…” well, it’s not an obvious entry point to then try to convince your congregation that their story echoes that of their namesake!
But I think as we dig into Saul/Paul’s story, we will see how we might be able to connect with it – as individuals, and by extension, as a congregation. (Going forward, a reminder: when I say “Saul,” that is the same guy for whom St. Paul’s is named. He did not change his name – Saul is his Hebrew name, and Paul is his Roman name. So: Saul = Paul.)
The story begins with Saul “still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.” When we first meet Saul in the book of Acts, he is holding people’s coats while Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is being stoned, and the young man Saul approves of this killing. (Yikes, rough start.) Now, we learn he has been empowered to hunt down other followers of the Way and bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he heads down the path to Damascus, though, Saul is knocked down and he encounters a sudden, bright light, and he hears a voice: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” The disembodied voice identifies itself as Jesus, “whom [Saul] is persecuting.” Saul is struck blind, and is led by the hand into Damascus, where he fasts and presumably prays for three days.
It's very dramatic, and because of that it is perhaps difficult on its surface to relate to. But think of this: have you ever been heading down a metaphorical path you believed to right, even godly, only to be suddenly knocked off course in a big way? I know I have! And perhaps that sudden and dramatic disorientation was exactly what was needed to get you to reevaluate what path you were following, and begin discerning where God was leading you instead. When I have had such a disorienting encounter, I have, like Saul, had to rely heavily on others – to lead me by the proverbial hand, or talk me through options, or pray with or for me, or sometimes just to let me weep. I have found myself confused and uncertain, struggling to see clearly what was happening or how to respond to it. I have depended upon prayer and discernment.
So… can anyone else relate to that? Ever had a dramatic event in your life disrupt your plans, and throw you off your previously chosen path? Ever had to rely on others for direction as a result? Ever thrown yourself completely into prayer, hoping for clarity on where God wants you to go next? And, have we experienced any of this as a congregation?
Keep thinking about that as we look at this next part of the story. Ananias comes and prays for Saul, laying hands on him and saying, “Brother Saul, Jesus has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And then, I love this: “Something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored.” What a compelling image for that moment when we are visited by sudden clarity about God’s plan for us. Sometimes it does feel just like this, like scales falling and sight or insight or perspective restored. Sometimes it is waking up in the morning and you just, suddenly, know the thing that seemed impossible to grasp just the night before. Sometimes it comes after you have made a tough decision, and the relief you feel is like a weight lifted from your shoulders, and a confirmation that you have, with God’s help, done the right thing.
When have you felt that? When has God brought you the gift of clarity about how to go forward? When have you been affirmed that God has set you once again on the right path?
When has St. Paul’s as a congregation experienced this?
I can’t speak for your personal stories, of course, but I have some thoughts about how this story has played out at St. Paul’s. Most recently, this makes me think of how we handled the Keymel bequest we received a year and a half ago. We were gobsmacked to learn we would receive such a sum of money. (Knocked off our path and confronted with a great light and the voice of Jesus, you might say!) We consulted with (were led by) a lot of people both in and outside of the congregation. And, through prayer and discernment found ourselves heading down some roads we would not have otherwise found ourselves traveling – like evaluating and donating a million dollars to worthy organizations, or considering hiring or calling someone for a new position focusing on outreach and evangelism, or dramatically increasing our endowment fund to allow us to give away more money each year, and building relationships with many organizations locally and beyond. It has been a road to Damascus experience.
Going back a few more years, the whole world was knocked off their path by the Covid pandemic, blind-sided and unsure of how to go forward. Through discernment, sage advice from wise people, and many people’s willingness to be adventurous and share their gifts, we ended up developing a livestream service which now serves a third to half of our worshiping community on any given Sunday. Our online congregation is made up of members who can’t come in person for reasons ranging from age and mobility to being on vacation, as well as out-of-town family members of our local members, and people who are looking for a church and wanted to check us out online before they come in person. It is a gift to our ministry we never would have had, if not for getting knocked off the path by Covid. Another road to Damascus experience.
Going even a little further back, when your longtime pastor retired, you were prepared for that. You expected it. But then, the first attempt at a call process did not result in a new pastor, and then your longtime music director also left, and many beloved members followed. I wasn’t here for that, but I suspect that left you a bit disoriented, knocked off your path, and unsure how to go forward. Various people and resources took you by the hand and led you through that darkness, prayed with and for you, and suddenly things became clear. You were able to hire a new music director who was beloved, and then call a new pastor (me!), and together we started a new chapter in St. Paul’s ministry. Another road to Damascus.
You see this story plays out again and again – not just for us at St. Paul’s, of course, but for all Christians. That experience, no matter how big or small, on the side of the well-trodden, familiar path – blinded, disoriented, questioning, uncertain – is not a fun or easy place to be. Frankly, it can be discouraging, unsettling, even terrifying. Yet Jesus does not leave Saul alone there, nor does he leave us alone. He may question us in that place, like he did Saul. He may challenge us. He may ask more of us than we think we are able to give. But, he will also provide just what we need to get where we need to go – someone to lead us by the hand, someone to pray with and for us, even the Holy Spirit herself. All along the way, God never leaves Saul’s side.
And when the time comes (three days later, hm, sounds familiar!), suddenly a new life begins for Saul. He suddenly sees the future God has in store for him. First, he is baptized, and receives assurance of God’s presence, forgiveness, and protection for this life and the next. Then he receives some food for strength – not unlike how we receive strength from this holy food we have each week. He spends time with other followers of Christ, in fellowship with a Christ-centered community. And then, he goes out into the world, proclaiming Jesus, saying, “Jesus is the Son of God!” And Saul, Paul, becomes the foremost missionary and church-planter who spreads the good news of Jesus Christ throughout Asia and Europe, and whose letters to these fledgling churches would become our holy scripture.
And none of it would have happened if he hadn’t been knocked off his planned path, if his plans hadn’t been disrupted. This, I find very comforting, because I am often so annoyed when my plans get disrupted. And yet, it is often those disruptions that are exactly what is needed to bring about the new life God has in store for us and for the world.
Let us pray… Disrupting God, we do our best to plan our lives and do your will, but sometimes you have a different idea. We thank you for the story of Saul, and for what it teaches us about trusting that when we are set off our path, it might just be exactly what is needed to set us on yours. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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