✝️ REFLECTION CAPSULE FOR THE DAY – June 29, 2021: Tuesday
“Imitating and following the example of St Peter and St Paul – Humble and Great Saints of the Church!”
(Based on Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul)
It is said that World History is a victorious story written by the winners, through the lives of proud emperors, famous rulers, triumphant troops…
… but Salvation History is written by God, through the lives of humble saints, repentant sinners and passionate lovers of the Lord!
God is an amazing script writer!
>> His Divine Wisdom, beautifully pens lives.
But often, we fail to understand this script
>> Failures, disappointments, tragedies…
… are mostly, considered by us, as the end of our lives….
Today, Holy Mother, the Church invites our attention to Two Persons – St Peter and St Paul…
… who faced failures, disappointments and tragedies
>> But remarkably, through the Divine Plan, their lives were scripted to a classic story….
St Peter was overwhelmed by the Great Fishermen of Hearts
>> All through the life of Jesus, we see St Peter, varying between many emotions: over-zealous, impatient, bold, courageous, simple, daring
St Paul was overpowered by the tremendous power of the Risen Lord
>> All through his life, we see St Paul zealous and passionate, fervent and ardent, bold and courageous.
God, the Great Script writer, knew exactly well, these two personalities…
… Their life is a paradox.
Both had their moments of rejecting, persecuting, betraying and doubting the Lord…
Both had their moments of a “turning point”
… St Peter’s call to be a Fisher of People & the Lord once again accepting him, in love, after Resurrection
… St Paul on his way to Damascus, being prevailed over by the Majestic Power of the Risen Lord!
Both had their moments of being misunderstood and facing tough moments from the people, especially, the close people, with whom, they lived with, and to whom they ministered.
Both had their moments of sharing in the Cross of Christ, in His Chalice of Suffering and in the Baptism of a Holy Death!
Today, both are honoured & venerated as Stalwarts of our Faith & the Pillars of the Church.
Peter who had been Simon; Paul who had been Saul.
>> Peter the fisherman, the small-town Galilean Jew; Paul the Pharisee, the scholar of the Law.
Peter always conscious of the Faith’s Old Testament roots; Paul who found in Christ, “all things new.”
>> Peter who had lived and walked with Jesus; Paul who encountered the Risen Jesus.
Peter crucified on an inverted Cross; Paul martyred by the Sword.
>> Two very different persons.
>> Two different temperaments.
But ONE in their Zeal, Passion, Love, Mission, Enthusiasm, Fervour…All for the Lord!
These saints have much to teach us…
… and much to be imitated!
Is the story of our life, suffering from a ‘bad-script,’ at the moment?
>> There is Hope… in the Lord!
Are there areas in our life, where there is persecution?
>> There is Salvation…in the Lord!
Are there moments in our life when we feel betrayed or cheated?
>> There is Love… in the Lord!
Are there situations of rejection and loneliness in our life?
>> There is Acceptance… in the Lord!
Are there times of doubt or tears or pain in the depth of our heart?
>> There is Healing… in the Lord!
The Lord, the Mighty Rock… promised and declared St Peter to be the Rock!
>> The Lord, the Good News… promised and declared St Paul to be the Evangelizer!
Today He invites us to imitate & follow the example of these Humble and Great Saints of the Church.
Let us grow in Obedience, in Love and in Dependence… like St Peter
>> Let us grow in Passion, in Courage and in Openness… like St Paul!
Happy Feast of St Peter and St Paul, the Pillars of the Church to all of us, the Seekers of their Intercession and Zeal!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
– Fr Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS
Bengaluru, India
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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
THE CHRISTMAS MYSTERY
>> Jesus was born in a humble stable, into a poor family.
>> Simple shepherds were the first witnesses to this event. In this poverty, heaven’s glory was made manifest.
>> The Church never tires of singing the glory of this night: The Virgin today brings into the world the Eternal and the earth offers a cave to the Inaccessible. The angels and shepherds praise Him and the magi advance with the star, For you are born for us, Little Child, God eternal!
>> To become a child in relation to God is the condition for entering the kingdom.
>> For this, we must humble ourselves and become little.
>> Even more: to become “children of God” we must be “born from above” or “born of God”.
>> Only when Christ is formed in us will the mystery of Christmas be fulfilled in us.
>> Christmas is the mystery of this “marvellous exchange”: O marvellous exchange! Man’s Creator has become Man, Born of the Virgin. We have been made sharers in the Divinity of Christ who humbled Himself to share our humanity (Cf. CCC # 525-526)
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Nelson MCBS 