This weekend the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the
Solemnity of two great Christian heroes, St. Peter, the “Prince of the
Apostles,” and
Although these men seem “larger than life,” they were, in
fact, very ordinary people called to do extraordinary things. Simon the fisherman and Saul the tentmaker
answered the call of Jesus to follow him even if it led to their deaths. They both denied Jesus, they both experienced
a radical conversion and they both overcame their limitations and shortcomings
by the grace of God working through their lives. They left us with a legacy to proclaim Jesus
as the “Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Like St. Peter and
In 2008 Pope Benedict wrote, “Dear brothers and sisters, as
in early times, today too Christ needs apostles ready to sacrifice
themselves. He needs witnesses and martyrs like
Loving God,
you called us each by name
and gave your only Son to redeem us.
In your faithfulness,
you sent the Holy Spirit to complete
the mission of Jesus among us.
Open our hearts to Jesus.
Give us the courage to speak his name
to those who are close to us
and the generosity to share his love
with those who are far away.
We pray that every person
throughout the world
be invited to know and love Jesus
as Savior and Redeemer.
May they come to know his
all-surpassing love.
May that love transform every element
of our society.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.