Mistaken Righteousness

  What famous person stood by as Stephen was stoned?  Saul, also known as Paul, was there giving his approval to what was happening.  Later Paul was authorized to search out adherents of the new sect that followed Jesus and have them arrested.  In his own mind, Paul was righteous in what he was doing.  He was trying to wipe out what he saw as Jewish heretics and put an end to this threat to Judaism.
  Paul was sincerely wrong.  Yet Paul was forgiven by Jesus, not just for adding his thoughts to the stoning of Stephen but also for actively persecuting the early church.  Jesus intervened in Paul's life to point out his error and bring him to repentance, forgiveness and conversion.  (The miraculous story is recounted in Acts 9.)  Paul was forgiven for what he failed to do (stop, or even protest, the killing of Stephen) and for what he did (persecuting Jesus' followers).  This event became the touchstone of Paul's life.  He knew that if he, with all he had done and failed to do, could be forgiven, anyone could be forgiven.

  For reflection:  On Friday we considered what people had done to us for which we needed to forgive them.  Today let us think of what people should have done for us but they did not do it.  Let us forgive them for their neglect.
  Let us pray.  Holy Spirit, please bring to my mind those whom I need to forgive who did not do for me what they should have.  I want to forgive them with your help.  Particularly, help me to forgive those who thought they were doing the right thing.

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