On the Conversion of St. Paul by Janet Cassidy

I was praying the Divine Office on the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle and I was struck by the words—so familiar, yet so fresh: "Paul, my grace is sufficient for you; my power is made perfect in weakness."

And the second Antiphon following it, "God’s grace in me has not been without fruits; it is always at work in me," also raised my awareness of just how much Paul’s life in carrying on the mission of Christ was dependent on God.

When you reflect on these two passages together, what simply cannot be missed is a sense of humility before God. It is just such humility that each of us would be blessed to embrace.

How often do you go through your day, imagining that YOU have accomplished this or that, when all along it was God? Do you recognize that whatever good your actions or words produce is a result of God’s grace in you as well? Do you hear the constancy of God’s presence in the words, "always at work in me?"

Yes, God is with us always, pouring out his grace on us, perfecting our weaknesses and producing good fruits through us. This connection with God in our lives is tangible. It is something to marvel and we must be careful not to ever take it for granted.

God’s grace is indeed sufficient for us!