The Feast of SS. Peter and Paul (The Year of St. Paul)
We're not forgetting the exalted vocation of St. Peter during our prayer and study of St. Paul's life and inspired epistles. The Feast this weekend emphasizes the eternal place of St. Peter and his successors in the Church. The present successor and his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, Servant of God, are spiritual guides in the constant plan to give honor and glory to God and thus to save souls. This plan must be followed in order to stay on the safe road to eternity. At Cesarea Philipi Jesus questioned the Apostles about Himself: "Who do people say that I am?" Some say John the Baptist, some Elias, others Jeremias or one of the other prophets. Jeus saith to them: "Whom do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered and said to him: Blessed are thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in Heaven." (St. Matthew 16:13-17). Heed these words. They are for every one of us. These words touch our hearts as they touched the heart of St. Peter, the poor, uneducated fisherman. They touch our hearts becaus they show us the exact way to heaven when they are followed by what Our Lord says next: "And I say to thee: That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon the earth, it shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth it shall be loosed in heaven." (St. Matthew 16:18-19).
These words are applied every day in our relationship with Almighty God. The Church shows us the way to God. St. Peter and St. Paul had no trouble seeing the Lord in all things and they cooperated in teaching that in season and out of season. Let us do the same because our souls' salvation depend on our strict allegiance to the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church.
Praise be Jesus Christ!
Now and Forever
Fr. Jerome Charles Romanowski
We're not forgetting the exalted vocation of St. Peter during our prayer and study of St. Paul's life and inspired epistles. The Feast this weekend emphasizes the eternal place of St. Peter and his successors in the Church. The present successor and his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, Servant of God, are spiritual guides in the constant plan to give honor and glory to God and thus to save souls. This plan must be followed in order to stay on the safe road to eternity. At Cesarea Philipi Jesus questioned the Apostles about Himself: "Who do people say that I am?" Some say John the Baptist, some Elias, others Jeremias or one of the other prophets. Jeus saith to them: "Whom do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered and said to him: Blessed are thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in Heaven." (St. Matthew 16:13-17). Heed these words. They are for every one of us. These words touch our hearts as they touched the heart of St. Peter, the poor, uneducated fisherman. They touch our hearts becaus they show us the exact way to heaven when they are followed by what Our Lord says next: "And I say to thee: That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon the earth, it shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth it shall be loosed in heaven." (St. Matthew 16:18-19).
These words are applied every day in our relationship with Almighty God. The Church shows us the way to God. St. Peter and St. Paul had no trouble seeing the Lord in all things and they cooperated in teaching that in season and out of season. Let us do the same because our souls' salvation depend on our strict allegiance to the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church.
Praise be Jesus Christ!
Now and Forever
Fr. Jerome Charles Romanowski