Devotion - Tuesday, October 11

Among the things that you know or can recall about St. Paul, did you know he has a nephew?  In Acts 23 there is a plot to assassinate Paul.  More than forty bound themselves by oath to neither eat or drink until they have done so.  They go to the elders in order to involve them in this plot.

The one who learns of these plans and sounds the alarm is "the son of Paul's sister."

I was in contact earlier this week with one of the sons of my sister.  I speak of Jeff often, for various reasons, but not often enough with him.  When he and Scott were just wee little boys they along with mom and dad lived in the same house as me and my parents.  It was a great experience and bonded us in ways beyond words.

No less than I, Paul had a sister and he was an uncle.  This particular nephew comes to the aid of his mother's brother and saves his life.

When we recall Paul and all that he did and all that he continues to teach the church, let's do our best to also remember that he had a family.  That he was part of an intimate group of folks who looked after one another and cared for one another.  His status as a saint may link his identity to God, but his real life relationships remind us that his identity isn't all that different from yours and mine.