In our contemporary American usage, “Sir” is a form of address intended to convey respect and, at the same time, is usually reserved for persons we either don’t know or don’t know very well. And it is in this sense that Saul (whom we also know as Paul) initially addresses Jesus as “Sir” during his dramatic encounter with him on the road to Damascus. In a short while, however, this same “Sir” would become “Lord” as Paul is baptized and enlightened by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit through whom alone one can say: Jesus is Lord! This transition from “sir” to “Lord” marks that delicate balance that we all must maintain as we grow in our knowledge and love of the Lord. It is a balance between intimacy, friendship, and loving trust in relation to Jesus, on the one hand, and awe, holy fear, and reverence, on the other. For although our growing intimacy with Christ does introduce a familiarity that allows us to, as it were, relax in his company, this familiarity and ease in relating can never lose that deep reverential love that is integral to a holy fear of the Lord. This balance between Jesus as Lord and Jesus as friend is one that we attend to again and again throughout the day as we transition from personal prayer and devotion to our participation in the liturgy—moving as we do, from a comforting and consoling intimacy and familiarity to a more formal, reverential, and worshipful attitude in his presence. On this feast of Paul’s conversion, then, let us evaluate our own attitudes in the presence of Jesus—both in our personal devotion and in our public worship. And let us pray for the grace to always reflect in our attitude the awareness that Jesus is both Friend and Lord and never simply one or the other.