“I WILL GIVE THEM ONE HEART AND PUT A NEW SPIRIT WITHIN THEM; I WILL REMOVE THE HEART OF STONE FROM THEIR FLESH AND GIVE THEM A HEART OF FLESH.”

– EZEKIEL 11:19

It is rare to associate the lives of saints with tales of loot-thirsty pirates. As the stories go, Vincent was travelling to the French city of Narbonne from the large port city of Marseilles after concluding some business arising from a will. While on the sea voyage, the ship was overtaken by Barnaby pirates, who took crew and passengers captive and transported them to the North African city of Tunis. In the city, Vincent is sold as a slave, allegedly passing through multiple owners before coming into the possession of a Frenchman, himself a former slave and a convert to Islam. During his bondage, his authentic conversations with others and his witness of faith in the prayerful tenderness of singing led the man and one of his wives to become followers of Christianity. Together, they returned to France, and Vincent secured his freedom. Quite a turn of events!

To change the mind of another person is not an easy task. Often, what starts as a discussion on differences of opinions can lead to heated arguments, frustrations, and fractured relationships, rather than persuasive and open dialogue. Vincent, in a state of vulnerability, shared the depth and beauty of his personal and loving relationship with the Divine. Through his sharing, something remarkable happened. Curiosity was sparked. Spirits were moved. People were changed.

While the story is one that details Vincent’s ability to transform others, it is also a reminder of the power of transformation that occurs in one’s own heart.

Our experiences shape who we are. The choices we make in the midst of challenging times shape us as well. What we believed to be true before can take on a fuller and more meaningful depth. Like the man Vincent encountered, we can be converted to a new way of being by the people who unexpectedly come into our lives. Conversion has become a loaded term. Throughout history, it has been experienced as making people something else, sometimes through deceptive, superficial, or violent means. It can appear to be a forced or coercive external process. It makes us weary to engage in activities that impose on others. However, at its core, conversion is an invitation to engage in honest and authentic dialogue. Each person’s truth can impel the participants into new and unexpected places.

As Vincentians, it is in the ordinary interactions of everyday life, and through service to others, that we can witness to the truth of our being. Conversion involves the prayerful and dialogical discernment with God, the free decision to accept the fruits of that discernment, and the living out of this change in heart in deep love and trust of God. This truth can lead others to deeper conversations, to share the experiences of their own lives, or to express curiosity about the nature of this truth. It is these authentic and honest encounters that can lead to a mutual change of heart. It is the realisation that God is present in these encounters and conversations and deeply involved in the realities of our lives.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• Describe an experience in your own life where you have had a change of heart.
• What is God asking of you today?

From: Firewood for the soul, vol. 2, A Reflexion Book for the Whole Vincentian Family
St. Vincent de Paul Society, Queensland, Australia.
Text by: Samantha Hill and James Hodge.