HOMILY
FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF SS. PETER AND Paul
Rev.
Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi
It is not by birth but
by their mission identity that they are celebrated as twins. Today, we
celebrate the two great apostles of mission, Peter and Paul. Peter was chosen
to be the head of the Church, and had the mission to preach the Gospel,
especially among the Jewish communities. Paul became the chosen instrument of
God to bring the Good news to the whole world. In their spiritual journey with
the Lord, both experienced the gratuitous compassion and forgiveness of the
Lord. Peter denied the Lord and three times and when he asked for pardon was
forgiven. Paul persecuted the early Christian community, and on his way to
Damascus was called, converted and forgiven. They are simply ancestors in the
faith; the ones who have explained and handed over the message of Christ to us.
In the First Reading
(Acts 12:1-11), we experience how Peter
the Apostle was rescued from disgrace and shame of his persecutors. The last
sentence of the reading made it very vivid: now,
I am sure that the Lord has rescued me from the hand of Herod. As Herod was
making his plans to use Peter as a source of firm and popularity, God was
making plans to use the situation as a source of glory and testimony upon the
life of his apostle, Peter. Peter was imprisoned by Herod, most probably to
kill Peter as he thought that the killing of James was pleasurable for the
people, whom he desires to get their allegiance. It is ungodly to play with the
life of any human being on account of a selfish aggrandisement or ambition. Many
lives have being destroyed because of the pride of place we allude to our
personalities, positions of power or level of learning. We prefer to achieve
what we desire by whatever means available. We must guide against such
temptations that make us prefer our desires over human life and existence. As Herod
imprisoned Peter, the Christians were in deep prayers for the life of Peter,
and the Lord had to intervene. Our Christian communities must learn to join
anyone that suffers in his/her suffering. We must learn to show empathy and
sympathy for our brethren we share the faith with. How many of us have offered
some prayers for the sake of persecuted Christians all over the world? The prayer
of the community is efficacious. We have seen how the angel of the Lord rescued
Peter, and Peter grew more in the consciousness of a God who loves and recues. It
made him more zealous for the Gospel. When we show solidarity and compassion,
we help to make the faith grow.
In the Second Reading
(2 Tim. 4:6-8), we see how fulfilled the Apostle Paul was. He has fought a good
fight of faith. He has preached to all people. He has converted many. He has
also been shown great compassion by the Lord. According to Him: the lord stood by me and gave me strength
to proclaim the word fully...I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. When we are
with the Lord, we are sure of redemption. Paul also experienced the God that
rescues his people. The Lord rescued Paul and was with him throughout his
mission to the Gentiles. But what was Paul preaching to the Gentiles? One can
summarize the preaching of Paul with the answer of Peter in the Gospel (Matt.16:13-19):
you are the Christ the son of the living God. The apostle preached Christ who
Himself was the kingdom of God made man. He preached the reign of this kingdom
both on earth and in heaven. That was why he was sure that he having fought to
establish this kingdom on earth has been given the ticket for the heavenly one.
Thus, from the
Readings, we discover how God rescues and guides those He has called to
himself; those who work for him. That is why the Psalmist unequivocally stated:
from all my terrors, the Lord rescues me (Psalm
34:5b). May the Lord continue to give us the strength to tap from the riches of
his redemption, love and compassion as we pass through the terrifying
situations we have found ourselves in life. Amen. May my Patron Saints, Peter
and Paul pray for us. Amen. Happy Feast Day.
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