Homily
for June 29, 2017
Today, we remember St. Peter
and St. Paul, the greatest names ever as far the early history of the church is
concerned.
Peter was the one to whom
Jesus entrusted the keys of the kingdom of heaven as the visible head of the
Church while Paul was the one Jesus arrested on the way to Damascus making him
a great apostle to the Gentile world.
While Peter represents
tradition, authority and unity, Paul represents grace, mercy and humanity.
St. Paul says to us today,
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith.” These words underlie the nature of the Christian life. It is both a
fight and a race at the same time.
A fight against the flesh
and its craving for sinful desires, a fight against the forces of darkness, a
fight against the world that has rejected and continues to reject Christ. To win
this fight against principalities and powers,
St. Paul recommends that we
put on the whole armour of God which includes truth, righteousness as a breastplate, the gospel of peace, faith as a shield, salvation as helmet, and
the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:12-17.
The Christian life is also a
race which requires constant training, dedication and commitment. As St. Paul
says to us “Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only
one receives the prize?
So run that you may obtain
it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a
perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do
not box as one beating the air; but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after
preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians
9:24-27
Today we celebrate the
ultimate victory of the Apostles for their efforts to keep the faith despite
their struggles.
Herod arrested Peter
intending to bring him to trial so as to publicly make fun of him but that very
night he was set free by the Angel of God. Even if he would eventually die for
the sake of the Gospel, this very incidence is a proof that when we suffer for
the sake of righteousness, we are never alone.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, as
we celebrate the two great men who fought gallantly in laying the foundation of
your church on earth, help us to follow diligently in their footsteps and win
the race before us. Amen.
*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith.
It is well with you. God bless you. (Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. Bible Study: Acts 12:1-11. 2
Timothy 4:6-8,17-18 and Matthew 16:13-19).*
Fr. Abu.
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