BE A SAINT.

SAINT PETER AND SAINT PAUL. YEAR A.
June 29, 2008
(First reading: Acts 12:1-11) (Second reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18)
(Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19)


BE A SAINT

Saint Peter and Saint Paul teach us how to be a saint.

1. A saint must know who Jesus Christ is, what he stands for, why he came to the world. Peter has the answers. When Jesus asked his disciples "Who do you say that I am?" Peter responded: "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God" (Matthew 16:15-16).

A saint must know that the Son of the Living God stands for everything that is in God: Goodness, compassion, truth, peace, justice. A saint knows that Jesus came so that we may be saved from a world of wars, injustice, lies, death.

2. A saint must accept the tasks Jesus assigns to him, just like Peter accepted the tasks given him by Jesus: "You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). Similarly, Saint Paul accepted to bring the Good News of liberation to the gentiles. That is what a saint must do: Be faithful and courageous so as not to run away nor waiver under pressure from the world.

A saint must know that Jesus is more powerful than all the sophisticated weapons and means of torture. When Peter was chained in the prisons of king Herod, "the angel of the Lord stood by him... the chains fell from his wrists... They passed the first guard, then the second and came to the iron gate leading out to the city which opened for them by itself" (Acts 12:7-10)

3. A saint must make a total offering of himself for the well being of his fellow human beings, in the manner of Saint Paul who was "poured out as a libation... competed well... finished the race... kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:6-7).

A saint must regard his life as secondary to the justice and peace and truth he brings to every human being, for in doing so he reaches the fulfillment of God in his own life, just as Saint Paul reached "the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the right judge, awarded to him" (2 Timothy 4:8).

A saint knows that the "crown of righteousness" will be awarded not only to Paul but to all who long for the Lord's appearance (2 Timothy 4:8).