Today's first reading provides us with a very significant image: The Road to Damascus. In the 1950s, after the Second World War, many people turned to the Catholic Church to help them make sense of their lives and the war-torn world. The conversion stories of some of these converts to Catholicism were gathered together in books entitled The Road to Damascus.

Many people today feel that we should not try to convert to Catholicism people of other faiths. Be that as it may, we should be conscious of the fact that a great many people in this world have no faith. While there are those who deliberately reject every notion of faith and religion, we can be sure there are many who would gladly receive the gift of faith if it were given them. Many people would gladly walk the road to Damascus if only someone were there to point the way, and perhaps to walk some part of the way with them. Even if we are wary of "proselytizing" in an unacceptable sense, we can always become a more welcoming Church, a more inviting community. Many will come if they are invited whereas they will not be brave enough to come uninvited.