We’ve all heard the saying “I never would have guessed.” That is, what is going on at the present time would never have led me to predict this future outcome. This theme figures prominently in the stories of two early Saints, Peter and Paul, men who walked so closely besides the missionary Lord Jesus.

Take St. Paul. Assessing him in his earlier days, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him something of a fanatic. His energies and passions were taken up with eliminating this very small, brand new Jewish sect, the Christians. Anything but a friend of Jesus and his followers, he wanted to erase all traces of any influence they had.

And then, what happens? In a very dramatic way, he not only meets the Risen Jesus, but “takes Him in,” absorbs The Lord’s person into his very self. And to such an extent that Paul spends the rest of his life planting the seeds of the Kingdom for which Jesus lived, died and rose to new life. At his end, Paul dies a martyr for this Reign of God that Jesus proclaimed.

Who would have guessed, who would have thought?

And then there’s Peter. Talk about getting off to a faltering start! He was attracted to Jesus, but at least in part because Peter was hoping for a large share of Jesus’ glory, eternal life itself. And then so much for undying loyalty. Just before the Lord’s crucifixion, Peter outright denies Him not once but three times over.

Peter, the so-called Rock of the Church, who would have thought?

But then we know the rest of the story-– Peter emerges as leader of the early Church, becoming revered as its founding Rock. In the end, Peter undergoes a glorious martyrdom for the sake of the Kingdom Jesus proclaimed.

That phrase, “who would have guessed?” appears in the life of nearly every believer. The pattern is familiar: a hopeful beginning, unexpected setbacks, forgiveness, and then a hope-filled return.

The One who truly knew what would happen, the One who outguessed not only Peter and Paul, but every falling yet trusting believer since is of course our Lord Jesus Christ. He walks with each of us-– and indeed within us– on the road of discipleship.

The example of these two great saints, these failing and then succeeding saints, encourages all of us who have also heard the call Jesus continues to send. And this includes every believer, yourself and myself included-– all of us who rise, then fall, and then rise again, as together we all travel along the Gospel Way.

Who would have guessed?

In a letter to one of his priests, Vincent cites St. Paul’s life-changing conversion.

“There is no one on earth, no matter how holy, without some inclination to evil… Saint Paul was perhaps never so much inclined to sin as when God struck him down for his own Conversion, nor more pleasing in the eyes of the Lord as the height of the temptations he subsequently endured.”

(Volume: 5 | Page#: 473) To Étienne Blatiron, 19 November, 1655