Acts 9:10-19. Meanwhile, there is a follower of Christ in Damascus named Ananias. While Saul was going through his "three days of darkness," the Lord speaks to Ananias and tells him to go in search of Saul and lay hands on him so that he will regain his sight. Ananias responds by saying he knows how much evil Saul has done and that Saul has come to Damascus with authority to arrest the followers of Christ. The Lord tells Ananias that Saul is a chosen instrument of His who will spread the Gospel far and wide. He goes on to say "I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." So Ananias goes to Saul, lays hands on him, and tells him that the Lord Jesus, who Saul met on the road, has sent him so that Saul might regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Something like scales immediately fall from Saul's eyes, and he can see again. He arises, is baptized, takes food, and stays with a disciples in Damascus for several days.

Ananias' conversation with God reminds me a bit of Mary's - asking a clarifying question of God but being completely ready to do His will. Both had every reason to be afraid of what God was asking of them, but both took God at His word, trusted completely, and gave themselves over to His will. There was nothing wrong with either of their clarifying questions, they weren't challenging or distrusting God, like Zachariah did, they just needed a little more information. Because of Ananias's faith, trust, and humility, we have Paul, one of our greatest teachers and evangelizers, if not the greatest! Because of Mary's even greater humility, trust, and faith, we were given the gift of our Savior Jesus Christ!

Another thing that strikes me here is that God assures Ananias that it will be made known to Saul exactly how much he has to suffer for the name of the Lord. God does not have to tell Ananias this at all, but he does so, in part, I think, to reassure Ananias that God is a just God. God alone knows truly what Saul has done, and what has been in his heart, and God will allow Saul to suffer as much as is necessary for him to be cleansed of that evil. Ananias does not have to take Saul's punishment on himself, he is merely to obey God, and he does so.

Finally, while all this is going on, Saul is sitting blind, not eating or drinking. He does not know that God is calling Ananais, he does not know that his blindness has an end date, he does not really know anything, and that is the way God wants it for now. When we are in the midst of our dark times, we do not know when they will end, and we do not see what God is doind behind the scenes to being them to an end, but He is always doing something, and He has promised us eternal happiness, and He always keeps His promises! He probably wants us to be learning something or growing in virtue in the meantime. He certainly wanted Saul to be! We only need to trust Him. Even if our suffering does not end in this life, it is a cross that is helping us get to the next in complete joy! 

I very much hope that I would have the same faith, trust, and humility as Ananias did if the Lord calls me with a task that seems frightening or overwhelming. There are many reasons to read the Bible, but one, for me at least, definitely is to see all of the role models that we have in our faith. They inspire me to try to be like them. Thank you, Ananias, for answering God's call! Please help me to do the same.