In the early Church, the conversion of St. Paul was seen as nearly as startling and unthinkable of an event as the resurrection itself. Saul, the same man who had approved the stoning to death of St. Stephen, the man who had set out for Damascus, “breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,”(Acts 9:1) was now proclaiming Jesus and calling himself an Apostle. Truly, this was remarkable, but there is another, equally remarkable figure in St. Paul’s conversion story, who often gets overlooked.
The first disciple to encounter Saul after his conversion is a man named Ananias. Ananias was told of Saul’s conversion by the Lord Jesus in a vision and was given instructions to seek Saul out and pray with him. Ananias was understandably hesitant. He knew about Saul, about “the evil things he has done to your (Jesus’s) holy ones in Jerusalem,” and that he has come to Damascus with authority to imprison all who call upon the name of Jesus. (Acts 9:10-15).
Now, when I say the early Church, I am not referring to the Church 300 years after the death of Christ, or even ten years after His death. This is the Church of the very first community of believers, while the Apostles were still alive, while the primary mission field has still been the Jews in and around Judea. It was a small, intimate body of believers. In all likelihood, Ananias knew personally or at least knew of, those who had been persecuted by Saul. And when I say persecuted I don’t mean “canceled” or ridiculed; they were imprisoned, physically tormented, even executed for following Jesus. And when Ananias refers to those who call upon the name of the Lord, this includes himself! Saul has come to town to imprison him!
So, he is hesitant. However, he remains in dialogue with Jesus. Ananias does not ignore the Lord, shutting down what seems like an unreasonable request, but he also doesn’t ignore his own concerns with what is being asked of him. He brings his concern to Jesus and, when Jesus insists that meeting with Saul is His will and will lead to the glorification of His name, Ananias obeys. This is radical obedience, simple, humble abandonment to God’s will, trusting in Him entirely.
Everything Ananias has heard about Saul is still true. He is responsible for the persecution of followers of the Way, he is still in Damascus with authority to imprison those who call on Jesus. What has changed is Ananias’s response to him. Who Saul has been, what he has done is no longer what matters to Ananias. What matters is exclusively what Jesus has asked him to do. Jesus has given him a mission and he carries it out faithfully. This faithfulness was manifest in the first words we here from Ananias. When Jesus appears to him in a vision, calling him by name, Ananias replies simply, “Here I am, Lord.” His actions complete the line, “ready to do your will.”
Prose for the sake of Poetry 