Steadfast In The Faith

Today we honor two key men, Peter and Paul, without whom the Church would not be what it is today. Jesus chose Peter as the leader of his Twelve, not because of his great education and administrative skills, but because of his deep faith, enthusiasm and total dedication to Jesus, despite his weaknesses and lapses.  He grew through his mistakes, led and inspired until his martyrdom.  Little did the Galilean fisherman dream that he would lead the Church at Antioch and Rome, where he would be crucified upside down, as tradition has it, for his faith in Jesus, ever his master.  Jesus had placed primacy upon Peter, and his successors, right down to Pope Francis continued to confirm all in their love for Jesus and others.
Paul, who once persecuted believers became a tireless missionary and preacher, traveling the Mediterranean Basin to establish communities of faith, writing to exhort and encourage them, pointing out their uniqueness and helping them establish their identity as distinct from the Old Covenant. After countless beatings, rejections, sleepless nights and shipwrecks, he too suffered martyrdom for the sake of Jesus.
These saints are not looking for human praises, but our love for the faith we share for them, and our willingness to live it boldly and attract others to it as they did.  Their example is especially relevant in our world of muddled values and beliefs.  Saints Peter and Paul, make us fearless and steadfast as your disciples and draw us closer to Jesus, without whom we can do nothing.
Bro. Rene