Lead us, great teacher Paul, in wisdom's ways,
And lift our hearts with thine to heaven's high throne,
Till faith beholds the clear meridian blaze,
And, sun-like, in the soul reigns charity alone.
Elpis, wife of Boethius (480-524)
Paul has come in for his share of criticism and even calumny in some circles of NT study – his views on a number of issues challenged, contested, the target for a dismissive reductionism. But there is great wisdom, and remarkable intellectual vision in his writings. I've just finished yet another slow reading of Ephesians, and there are passages there that are amongst the highest points in all Christian literature.
So the prayer of Elpis to St Paul – let's not get into the theological soundness or spiritual efficacy of praying to one of the saints, even if it is Paul. I'd rather just echo the prayer and discover that the blessing of God isn't so hemmed round by theological proprieties as we might think. The direction of the heart Godward seems more important.
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