Pastor's Message

  Solemnity of Sts. Peter & Paul Sunday 

                                      “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.”  Gal 2:20

           Today we gather around the Altar of the Eucharist, to celebrate the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul; two great Apostles and pillars of our Mother Church.

           These Great Missionaries, one to the Jews and the other to the Gentiles, shine like stars of the brightest magnitude in the history of the Church.  Through them, Faith and its propagation reached wide and far to the known World of the time.

          These Principal Patrons of the Church, great examples of faith, however are known to us as disciples who struggled in their life in accepting the call to discipleship;

          In both men, we see truly the Power of God working through human weaknesses.

          St. Paul, was a dedicated persecutor of the infant Church and we hear about him, for the first, at the stoning and death of Stephen, the martyr. The Acts of Apostles tell us that after the death of Stephen, Paul, then Saul, intending to destroy the Church went from house to house, arresting men and women putting them in prison; To the cry of the Lord; “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

          In the case of Peter, we hear him several times so sure of himself, to an extent that you could be called arrogant. When Jesus expressed the Will of his Father, Peter takes him aside to dissuade him; ‘God forbid, Lord! No such a thing will ever happen to you!  Peter attempted to dissuade Jesus from following the will of his Father; “The way to the Cross!”  Jesus rebuked Peter, “Go behind me Satan! You are an obstacle to me!”

         Then, Peter, before Jesus is arrested, again is so sure of himself; “Lord I would be ready to go to prison with you and to death! “Even if I am to die with you, I will not disown you!” We know what happened to Peter, he denied Christ three times; “I do not know the Man!”

         These two men, however, had an encounter with the Lord that changed them. St Paul encountered the Lord on the road to Damascus where he was headed to persecute the infant Church. The blinding flash of light, the dazzling radiance of the Risen Jesus, penetrated Paul’s inmost being. This experience suddenly changed Paul, shattering his resistance and led to giving a definitive yes to Christ in the baptism by Ananias.

         St Paul there after lived a life of self-giving in total dedication to Christ! You hear him acclaim; “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Saint Peter, on the other hand, had a naïve enthusiasm in the accepting Jesus. Peter however was privileged with a revelation given by God himself; “Blessed are you Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my heavenly Father.”

         Peter’s faith remained shaky, even after the resurrection of Christ. The Lord, however would not give up on Peter. Their encounter on the shores of the Lake of Tiberius is a testament to this. “Simon, Son of John, do you love more than these do?”

         Peter, who experienced the pain of infidelity, answered, after this question was asked of him three times; “Lord you know everything, you know that I love you.”

         With this response, the Risen Lord entrusted his Church to Peter; “Feed my Lambs,” “Tend my Sheep.” “Feed my Sheep.” After this Jesus said to Peter, “Follow Me.” (Jn. 21:9)

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