Acts 9:1-31.  After his encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, Saul of Tarsus was left blinded and helpless for three days.  That unexpected down time was three days of grace, and in them Saul was learning the significance of what Jesus said to him.  Jesus had said “why are you persecuting me?”  Saul thought he was persecuting the church.  Christ’s appearance to him revealed who Jesus really was, and who the church is. We are Christ’s body. To persecute us is to persecute Christ. During those three days, Saul must have begun developing his Christology and ecclesiology that would proclaim the mysteries of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27), and “you are the body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 4:12).

LORD, when we are struck with periods of unexpected down time, may we take advantage of the gift by learning from your word, that we may proclaim you more effectively.