Through Saints Peter and Paul we come to see the origins of our faith. Saint Peter, who was the first pope. Saint Paul, who was sent out to bring the Gentiles to come and know of the love of Christ.
Both of these men suffered a martyr’s death and thus gave their life to Christ in a most intimate way. They are now both entombed in Rome and stand guard there as protectors of our faith.
Both men have stories of their past life, but in the end they came to know Christ and to give their life to Him. Saint Peter, denied Christ on three occasions and yet he was converted from his unbelief and came to believe. Saint Paul, as Saul was a persecutor of Christians and thus brought many to their death. Despite all of this Christ came and called him to surrender himself to conversion.
On this Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul may we come to emulate these holy men who gave themselves to Christ. May they show us the importance of our faith and assist us in living it out on a daily basis. May they assist us in following the path which leads towards conversion in order that we may truly come to know and love Christ as these holy men did.
Each of us have our own struggles and concerns, but Saints Peter and Paul show that Christ is willing to take these burdens upon Himself. These great saints display the reality that we can move past our sinfulness and be brought into complete trust and love for Christ. To come and discover Christ is to be led towards liberation.
Saints Peter and Paul point the way towards liberation for us. Saint Peter was captured and put into prison and yet he was liberated from his enslavement. Paul while writing to Timothy speaks of the liberation that he underwent in being sent out to preach Christ to the nations. All of us are in need of liberation and thus we must allow it to be constantly at work within our life. May we keep the door for this liberation open in order that we may receive the graces which God desires to pour out upon us.
Through the sacraments we receive the gift of grace which God pours out upon us. May we truly partake of the sacraments and thus allow God to be at work within our life. Through the Sacrament of Confession may we join with Saint Peter in a spirit of conversion brought about from our denial of Christ. Through the Sacrament of the Eucharist may we join with the apostles at the Last Supper who had the opportunity to commune with God and His great love for them.
