Fr Peter Helman (10.11.21)

Dear beloved,

What does the word conversion mean to you? More to the point, do you consider yourself a convert? If so, how and to what, and if not, why? It’s not a pressure-laden question, I promise. It’s just that conversion is very much at the heart of Christian faith, for it gets at the question of how God calls each of us by name and leads us forth.

God speaks to us, and that we know. And so, in one way conversion is the heart’s quickening by the good news of God’s saving love. That is what Jesus tells the disciples to proclaim in today’s Office gospel from Saint Matthew: “These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: […] go, proclaim the good news, ‘the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” I love Saint Paul’s words to the churches of Corinth: “If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; behold, everything has become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).

We speak often of the continuing conversion of both our souls and of the Church. The sanctification of our lives by the transforming love of Christ takes a lifetime.

We also speak of conversion as a sudden and decisive moment of turning from one path in life to another, a moment born of a heart quickened by the Spirit of God to follow in the way of Jesus. So often we find the Spirit at work in us in unexpected ways that stop us short and leave us shaken. A voice calls, and we know whose voice it is, so we turn to face our true selves in light of God’s love. We encounter God, and we see more clearly. The people we know ourselves to be change.

When have you known the transforming love of God such that you were converted? When did the voice of God call you to turn and grow?

Maybe today, you are seeking God and a deeper knowledge of God. The good news is that we all are seeking, and those who seek will find.

May we listen for the voice of God today, and follow where the Spirit leads us, whatever the cost.

Blessings on your day~

Fr. Peter