For the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles…
I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7
Nobody said being an apostle would be easy. This Sunday, as we celebrate two of the most influential apostles, Peter and Paul, we’re reminded of their sacrifice and suffering. We learn what Herod did to James and then hear about the arrest of Peter (Acts 12:1-11). We encounter the words written by Paul, a man in prison who was nearing the end of his life and was “being poured out like a libation” (v. 6).
It all sounds hopeless. But then in the Gospel, Jesus offers this promise for the Church: “…the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Even Paul from prison sees salvation ahead. “The Lord will rescue me…” he writes, “and bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom” (v. 18).
Out of persecution comes possibility. Darkness gives way to light.
In our own troubled times, the lives of these apostles have much to teach us about perseverance and trust.
Keep faith. Believe God’s promises. In the end, hope endures.
Deacon Greg Kandra
