The conversion of St. Paul came about because of a personal encounter. Saul said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” As Paul makes clear in his epistles he viewed that encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus to be just as real, just as personal as the meetings that previous disciples had when they walked with Jesus on the dusty roads of Galilee. Our faith flows from encountering Jesus as well, perhaps not as Paul did in Damascus or Peter in Capernaum but authentic just the same. Jesus left us the Eucharist so that we could encounter him in our day. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in them. Jesus in not a pious memory or a historical figure but someone really present in our lives.
