Dear brothers and sisters in
Jesus Christ, today we celebrate the solemnity of the two pillars of the
church: St.Peter, the prime among the twelve apostles and St.Paul, the apostle
of the gentiles. Both of them proved their love for and loyalty to Jesus Christ
their Lord and master by laying down their lives.
We see Peter, a Galilean fisherman
with all his weaknesses and frailties was called by Jesus and entrusted to him
the care of the church. His former name
was Simon which means weak or reed and later was changed by Jesus to Peter,
meaning rock. It is on this solid foundation Jesus built his community of
believers, the church. Of course, it is a clear indication that those people
who are called by Jesus may not be strong, intelligent, or powerful. But what
matters is whether they are faithful to him or not. It was not Peter’s physical
strength or fisherman’s experience that Jesus wanted but fidelity to and love
for him. Once Peter felt that his strength is nothing other than Jesus Christ
the crucified he was not afraid or ashamed of proclaiming Jesus as the Lord and
God even in the midst of cruel persecutions and sufferings. In the book of the
Acts we read that St.Peter rejoicing as they were flogged by the Jewish
council. They considered it even worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of
Jesus’ name.
Paul was totally contrary to
Peter’s character. He was a Pharisee who had procured higher knowledge of
Jewish law under Gamaliel and a roman citizen. Because of his zeal for the
Jewish law only he started persecuting Christians. As in the case of Peter,
Jesus was not attracted by Paul’s intelligence or his knowledge of the law but
his love for Jesus. Even though he was abandoned by his friends, fellow Jews,
and the pagans, he kept for himself that Jesus Christ has made him his own.
Therefore, he was not afraid of proclaiming Jesus even in the midst of many a
suffering that is elaborated in the second of Corinthians. Also we read in the
letter to the Colossians, Paul who was persecuting Christians earlier now
rejoicing in his sufferings for Jesus’ sake, longing for completing what is
lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.
Dear brothers and sisters in
Jesus Christ, on this feast of St.Peter and St.Paul, let us be more courageous and
confident to proclaim Jesus in our daily life. Jesus does not count our money,
education, family background or beauty but our openness, simple love and
fidelity. With these we can do a lot for Jesus in and around our family and our
village. It may be our family prayer, teaching children about Jesus and the
church, going to the church and participating in the prayers and the holy
Eucharist. Or even it may be our simple life witnessing Christian values, being
honest, human, loving, helping out others. Then Jesus will work even wonders
through us. Let us not forget that it was neither Mary nor servants who worked
wonder at Cana. But their roles were also counted by Jesus. We are not called
to do only extra ordinary things in our lives to be true Christian, but to do
ordinary things in an extra ordinary way of fidelity to Christ, charity towards
our brethren and hope in the life everlasting. Blessed Mother Theresa once
said, “we are not called primarily to be successful in life but faithful in
life.”
Let us in a special way pray and
believe with St.Paul, I can do all things in Jesus Christ who strengthens me.
Let us keep it as a special mantra of our daily life. May Mary mother of Jesus intercede for us that
we may become simple, true witnesses to Jesus Christ from today on. In the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit! Amen.
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