Newton Basumatari csc –
Readings: Acts 12: 1-11; 2 Tim 4: 6-8, 17- 18; Mt 16: 13- 19
Today the church celebrates the Solemnity of Peter and Paul, who are considered as solid rocks on which the church is built. God chose them as instruments to proclaim his message and to witness what they have seen and heard. They converted both Jews and Gentiles. Through Peter good news was proclaimed to the Jews and through Paul to the Gentiles.
In today’s first reading we see God becoming the strength for the people whom he has chosen to be his witnesses. Peter was put in prison for bearing witness to Christ through his words and deeds and God rescued him from the prison. In the second letter to Timothy, Paul speaks about the reward that he is going to receive for bearing witness to Christ. And in the Gospel Jesus promised that he will build his church on Peter.
The apostles Peter and Paul stand before us as models for bearing witness. They never got tired of preaching and journeying as missionaries from place to place. Pope Francis asks us to reflect on the witness of forgiveness while reflecting on these two important characters.
Many times, they encountered hardships and difficult situations in their journey. Many times, they faced life and death experience in their journey. However, they never gave up serving the Lord and exercised forgiveness in hostile situations. Today let us ask the Lord to give us courage and strength to forgive others.