0588 STS. PETER AND PAUL, PILLARS OF THE CHURCH (Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles. Cycle A. Ref. Rdgs. 1st. From the Acts of the Apostles 12:1-11. 2nd. From the 2nd Letter of St. Paul to Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18. 3rd/Gospel. From the holy Gospel according to Matthew 16:13-19. Responsorial Psalm. Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9) Both had their weaknesses; both started off by manifesting their characters, frailties, but Peter and Paul did become staunch pillars of the Church. These men of God proved their worth in the face of death: Peter, given the role as Shepherd of Christ’s flock, suffered martyrdom under Nero at about A.D. 64. while Paul, a great missionary, an advocate of the pagans and better known as ‘’Apostle of the Gentiles’’, was beheaded. What would it take for men to have the courage to face death for the sake of Jesus? From a weak man who could not stand firm on his commitment as follower of the Christ, beset with cowardice, Peter had become a veritable Shepherd to the flock left off by Jesus; a staunch epitome of the ‘’rock’’ that Jesus wanted him to be, as the Lord said to him, ‘’..and so I say to you, YOU ARE PETER, AND UPON THIS ROCK I SHALL BUILD MY CHURCH AND THE GATES OF THE NETHERWORLD SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT.. I WILL GIVE YOU THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever you loose shall be loosed in heaven.’’ As Peter walked through his life as head of the fledgling Church, he worked wonders and had been a firm defender of his Lord and Saviour, ready to face death for Jesus whom he loved so much. Paul was a sinner, a persecutor in the literal sense of the word; putting Christians to prison and to death with impunity. But it took just an encounter with Jesus Himself on the road to Damascus to convert him into a firm follower of the Lord. He became a staunch missionary, an advocate of the pagans, then became known as ‘’the apostle of the Gentiles’’. He was even ready to give his life in return for the conversion of even one Jew into a Christian. The words of Jesus that he was persecuting the Lord even if he was really punishing and killing Christians, convinced him that indeed, Christians belong to the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church; that hurting one part will affect the head who is Christ Jesus, the Head of the Body, the Church. What does it take really to have the courage to face even death, to be faithful to Jesus, our Lord? Do we have to witness His miracles first to desire martyrdom too? Is is enough to have the grace to BELIEVE AND TRUST, TO HOPE AND TO ABANDON OUR VERY LIFE TO THE LORD, to even have the courage to face the tempests and hurdles of life and even the incurables that beset us sometimes? This is why we celebrate these two pillars; former weaklings, sinners, very human, with feelings very similar to ours. We too can be like them. we too can be staunch in our beliefs, no matter how human we are. We just need to ask and pray for the grace of courage and endurance; patience and tolerance, in this very sinful and difficult world. WE CAN IF WE WILL TO... God so loves us that He has given us the Blessed Mother of Jesus to help us prepare for the coming of the Son of Man, in glory, on heavenly clouds, as King and Judge, at the end of time (Msg. 438, ‘’Open Your Hearts to Hope’’, To the Priests, Our Lady’s Beloved Sons). As we read the persecutions going on in Syria and in other countries of the world, we seem to be nearing the period that Peter and Paul have experienced during their time. But the Mother of Jesus, is busy guiding us. Thus on difficulties she has this to say (Msg 105, ‘’Your Difficulties’’, To The Priests, Our Lady’s Beloved Sons): ‘’And you, how are you to respond (to these difficulties)? As Jesus did: BY SILENCE, BY PRAYER, BY LIVING IN INTIMATE UNION WITH THE FATHER... in the light of the Father, ALL THAT IS NOT TRUE, ALL THAT IS NOT GOOD, ALL DECEIT AND ALL CALUMNY DISSOLVE OF THEMSELVES LIKE MIST IN THE SUN...’’ With Peter and Paul as our models of faith, let us bring to mind the words of the Blessed Mother of Jesus, ever present in our midst to prepare us for the Lord’s coming (Msg. 438 as above): ‘’Open your hearts to hope. Live in peace of heart and in prayer. Live in faith and in joy. Live in grace and in purity. Live in love and in holiness...’’ Let us pray: LORD, EVER GRACIOUS FATHER, MERCIFUL AND QUICK TO FORGIVE, GIVE THE COURAGE OF STS. PETER AND PAUL, THE STAUNCH FAITH WHICH THEY THRIVED ON AS THEY CLUNG TO THE DOCTRINES AND TEACHINGS OF THE CHRIST, EVEN IN THE FACE OF IMPOSSIBLE TEMPESTS AND HURDLES THAT CAUSE PAINS AND EVEN DEATH. MAKE US FEEL THE SUFFERINGS OF OTHERS WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE THAN OURSELVES, SO THAT WE TOO CAN MOVE AND ACT REGARDLESS OF COSTS TO OURSELVES, KNOWING THAT JESUS WOULD DO MORE THAN JUST THIS. ALL TO YOUR HIGHEST GLORY FATHER, THROUGH YOUR SON, OUR CHRIST AND LORD, WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN... .mcnol.062914.
Posted on: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 11:29:32 +0000