I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith. // 2 Timothy 4:6-7
The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul bring us face-to-face with men who became the cornerstones of our Church. Here are two men who had very different encounters with Christ. Saint Peter walked with Christ, dined with Him, denied Him, and proclaimed Him to be, "Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). Saint Paul, on the other hand, persecuted and killed the early Christians, until a divine encounter with Christ radically changed His life. He became the greatest Apostle in the early Church, composing over half the New Testament.
Both made life-altering mistakes, repented, and were forgiven and healed.
Both were martyrs for God and the Church.
Both were rescued from prison repeatedly.
Both competed well, finished the race, and kept their faith.
They were both “poured out like a libation” (2 Timothy 4:6), giving all they had to witness to Jesus Christ and build the Church He tasked them to establish. Whenever I look at the early Church and see the actions of Peter and Paul, I see men "rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name" (Acts 5:41). I see men unwilling to be silenced to bring the Good News of Christ to everyone around them. I see men whom "the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against" (Matthew 16:19).
Sister, we may not have been martyred or imprisoned for proclaiming Christ, but like Peter and Paul, we have made life-altering mistakes, repented, and were forgiven and healed. With the virtue of hope, we pray that at the end of our lives, we will have competed well, finished the race, and kept the faith. It won't come without trials, but today let us ask the intercession of Saints Peter and Paul to always guide our steps that we will always stay close to Christ and His Church.
[bctt tweet="With the virtue of hope, we pray that at the end of our lives, we will have competed well, finished the race, and kept the faith. //" via="no"]
