ACCORDING TO THE dictionary, conversion is the “act, process or instance of changing from one form, state or purpose to another.”
Thus, a tourist driving in a foreign country needs to know if the posted speed limit is miles per hour (mph) or kilometers per hour (km/h), while baking contest contestants need to be able to change ingredients from the Imperial system used in the United States to the Metric system used in many other countries.
While these meanings of the word “conversion” are important, there is another deeper meaning to this word that is essential for our eternal life. In this context, conversion means to turn away from a sinful way of life and turn to God, trusting in His infinite love and mercy. In the Bible, the idea of conversion is expressed as repentance or returning to God.
God continually sends prophets to His Chosen People to try to draw them back to Himself, such as when God spoke through Ezekiel and said “… As I live … I swear I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.” Jesus came precisely because God loves each of us personally and desires our eternal salvation, thus we find Jesus proclaiming, “Repent and believe the Good News.” Many saints in the past two thousand years have taken His words to heart and have done so.
St. Mary Magdalen, whose feast day we celebrate on July 22 , knew Jesus personally and wholeheartedly responded to His love and mercy after he expelled seven demons out of her (Mk. 16 & Lk. 8). Her conversion led her to accompany Jesus and His apostles along with other women who helped support them from their own means. All four of the Gospels speak of her presence at the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus (Mt. 27 & 28; Mk. 15; Lk. 8; Jn. 19), and she is considered the “Apostle to the Apostles” for being the first to tell them of Jesus’ resurrection.
St. Paul, formerly Saul, was a Jewish Pharisee who was on his way to Damascus to arrest and imprison Christians. He fell to the ground as he heard a voice say to him “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked. I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied (Acts 9: 4-8).”
After three days spent in prayer, Saul/Paul was baptized and became a faithful follower of Jesus, fearlessly proclaiming Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We celebrated his feast day on Jan. 25.
For Your Family:
■ Attend Mass on the feast days of St. Mary Magdalene and St. Paul.
■ Read the Resurrection accounts in the four Gospels to find Mary’s role, then say a prayer thanking her for telling this Good News to the Apostles.
■ In your search bar, find and do a craft for St. Mary Magdalene’s feast day.
■ Ask for St. Paul’s help to notice ways in which you are harming others rather than helping them.
■ Ask for the Holy Spirit’s help to know in what ways you need conversion.