Saints Peter and Paul are great examples of Christ’s love in spite of denial, failures, and ignorance. They are more relatable than you think.
Peter was selfish, had doubts, and was arrogant. Paul was spiteful and an instigator mocking and persecuting the idea of the Messiah. However, Peter’s journey and Paul’s conversion are reminders that God loves us and sees our great potential.
At Masses this weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of Martyrs Saints Peter and Paul.
Peter witnessed the Transfiguration and the agony in Gethsemane. He is the apostle that declares at the Last Supper he would never deny Jesus, but then, denies him three times before the rooster crowed (Matthew 26:69-74). God knows we learn best from our failures.
When we think of St. Paul we think of a proud teacher of Christ and defender of the Church. However, he was quite the opposite at first. He was a fierce foe. He was originally named Saul. His conversion came after he was stopped in his tracks. He experienced the Risen Lord on the road to Damascus. It is described for us in Acts chapter 9. While on the road, he and his group were suddenly surrounded by a bright beaming light from the heavens, causing him to fall to the ground. He heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Saul was blinded. Ananias, a true and loyal disciple of Christ, was summoned by God to go to Saul and lay his hands on him and heal him. Ananias protested, because he had heard of the heinous and evil things Saul had done to Christians. However, Ananias was obedient to God and went. He said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit.” He immediately regained his sight. At his baptism he took the name of Paul. We honor him as one of the most important and influential of all the saints through his letters and writings, which have influenced the growth of the Church and the faithful for centuries.
Let us learn from Saints Peter and Paul that Christ loves us no matter our failures and stubbornness, when we trust Him and teach others to love Him too.
