Heroes and Models

Message from Fr. Jose Koluthara, CMI

Lord Jesus, make us heroes and models of suffering in hope. Amen.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The feast of Peter and Paul that marks the end of the Jubilee Year of St. Paul, brings us face to face with the twin pillars of the original church. They are popularly known as the “Apostle to the Jews” and the “Apostle to the Gentiles”. Both Peter and Paul suffered martyrdom in Rome in the mid sixties. Scholars agree that it is highly unlikely that they both died on the same day. June 29th was probably chosen by the church as the day of their death because of the earlier association of June 29th with Romulus, the founder of the city of Rome. By replacing the day honouring Romulus with the Christian feast day of Peter and Paul, the church attempted to “baptize”, as it were, yet another pagan celebration. The Christian observance of the feast of Peter and Paul began in Rome in A.D. 258. Even though it is difficult to attribute the foundation of the church in Rome to Peter or to Paul, it is because they are acknowledged leaders of the Jewish and Gentile missions that they have been recognized as being indirectly responsible for the foundation of the Roman Church.

Last Sunday we heard about how Jesus calmed the storm at sea. This 13th Sunday in ordinary time we hear about Jesus healing a woman and raising a little girl from the dead (Mk. 5.21-43) Each of these miracle stories are tied together by the theme of faith in the person Jesus. In the second reading from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians, we hear about “the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Paul tells the Corinthians that Jesus, though rich, became poor for our sake so that we could all share in Jesus’ abundant wealth. Paul speaks of Jesus here as a role model. Like Jesus, we too are called to share the abundance of our resources with each other. In the simple act of offering resources from our surplus to others in need, we help create a community of equality where everyone’s burden is lighter.

Both Peter and Paul were made heroes and models for us by grace. Let us draw inspiration from them and submit ourselves to God’s grace.

---