We celebrate today the martyrdoms of two of the greatest
human beings who have ever lived: St. Peter and St. Paul.
Peter was killed very near to where his basilica now stands
on the Vatican Hill in what was then a Roman Circus named after the Emperors
Caligula and Nero. As his executioners were preparing to crucify him, Peter
gave them one last dying wish which delighted the sadistic executioners. Even
though his sufferings would be greatly multiplied, Peter asked to be crucified upside down, as he didn’t
consider himself worthy to be crucified in the same manner as our Lord, .
At the end of St. John’s Gospel, is the story where the Lord
asks Peter three times, “Peter, do you love me”, then tend my sheep, feed my
sheep. The Lord then says, “Amen, amen,
I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where
you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands.” And Peter did stretch out his hands on a
cross because he loved the
Lord more than anything else. And now Peter is with the Lord forever in
heaven.
St. Paul was slain for Christ, also in Rome, legend says, on
the same day as St. Peter. Because Paul
was a Roman citizen, the law said he could not be crucified. So he was dragged out the south gate of Rome
and was decapitated at a place called Aquae Salviae.
Where they started out was dramatically different from where
they ended. Peter was a Galilean fisherman. Paul, a rabbinical student, who was
initially convinced that Christians were heretics, and needed to be eradicated.
Both experienced tremendous conversion as their love and conviction for Christ
became the primary motivators of their lives. Paul, for example, even from prison,
makes spreading the Gospel, his primary task.
I love reading the Scriptures pertaining to these two men,
for God shines through their human weaknesses and doubts and brings about
tremendous courage in their lives—courage enabling them to do tremendous things
to build up the infant Church, courage which led them to give the ultimate
witness.
God chose these men to build up the Church and witness to
the saving faith in their day, and God chooses us to do the same.
May we know their intercession, and remember always their
example, that we, like them, might be poured out like a libation in service of
the Gospel, that we may profess always and everywhere that Jesus Christ is the
Son of the living God, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
The Lord Jesus built his Church on the foundation of the
apostles and prophets. In faith let us pray.
The Lord prayed that the faith of Peter would not fail, may
the Lord strengthen the faith of His Church and protect her from all dangers.
The Lord appeared to Peter after his resurrection and
appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus, may he make us steadfast proclaimers
of his resurrection.
The Lord called Peter, a fisherman, to be a fisher of men,
may he raise up new vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life.
The Lord mercifully forgave Peter’s denials, may he have
mercy upon all sinners, and all those who suffer illness or any other need.
The Lord gave Peter the keys of the kingdom, may the gates
of that kingdom be open to all who trusted in Christ’s mercy while still on
earth, especially the deceased members of the Yurick & Hodock families, for
whom this mass is offered.
Heavenly Father, graciously hear the prayers of your pilgrim
Church on this great Solemnity and grant our prayers of petition through
Christ, Our Lord.
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