Acts 9:1-5: a reflection

1But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3As he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him. 4He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5He said, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Saul, breathing threats and murder against the disciples, is on his way to Damascus to arrest more of them, when a light from heaven flashes around him, and he falls to the ground. And a voice says: Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? When Saul asks who is speaking, the answer is startling: I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Notice: Saul had been persecuting the disciples, Jesus' followers; yet Jesus says, you are persecuting me. Christ so identifies with his people that their suffering is his own.

Notice what Jesus reveals: that to persecute his people is to persecute him. Saul had been arresting and harming the disciples; but Jesus counts their suffering as done to himself: why do you persecute me? Christ is so united to his people that what is done to them, he takes as done to him; their afflictions are his. He does not stand at a distance from his suffering people; he is so joined to them that he says, when they are persecuted, you persecute me.

That union of Christ with his suffering people is a deep comfort. When we suffer, especially for his sake, we are not alone or unnoticed; Christ so identifies with us that he counts our suffering as his own. He said to Saul, in persecuting my people, you persecute me; he is that closely joined to his own. When you suffer, whether for Christ's sake or otherwise, know that Christ does not stand at a distance from you; he is so united to his people that your suffering is his own, felt by him as done to himself. You do not suffer alone or unseen; the Christ who said to Saul, why do you persecute me?, is joined to you in your suffering, counting it as his own. Take comfort that in your afflictions you are not alone; Christ is so united to his people that he shares their sufferings as his own, and is with you in yours.

Lord Jesus, Saul was persecuting your disciples when a light from heaven struck him down, and you said, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me; I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. He had been harming your followers, yet you counted their suffering as done to yourself, so united are you to your people. Give me the deep comfort of that union. When I suffer, especially for your sake, I am not alone or unnoticed; you so identify with me that you count my suffering as your own. You said to Saul, in persecuting my people, you persecute me; you are that closely joined to your own. When I suffer, whether for your sake or otherwise, help me know that you do not stand at a distance from me; you are so united to your people that my suffering is your own, felt by you as done to yourself. I do not suffer alone or unseen; you, who said to Saul, why do you persecute me, are joined to me in my suffering, counting it as your own. Let me take comfort that in my afflictions I am not alone; you are so united to your people that you share their sufferings as your own, and are with me in mine. Thank you that you are with me in my suffering, Lord.