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Solemnity: St. Peter and St. Paul (ABC)

Solemnity: St Peter and St Paul (ABC)                       

COLUMNAS DE LA IGLESIA

Esta fiesta es muy grande para los cristianos porque celebramos a aquellos dos apóstoles que Cristo eligió como "columnas" para continuar su obra, la Iglesia. Pedro recibió la misión de fundarla y gobernarla, Pablo, la misión de extenderla por el mundo. Recordándolos en un solo día tomamos conciencia de la doble dimensión de la Iglesia, una y católica.

Hermanas y hermanos:

1.  Pedro fue el primero en confesar la fe en Cristo. Ante la pregunta de Jesús a sus discípulos sobre qué piensan los hombres de él, Pedro, inspirado por el Espíritu Santo le responde: "Tú eres el Mesías, el Hijo del Dios vivo". Los demás discípulos no habían captado todavía lo esencial de la persona de su Maestro, o no tenían todavía la valentía para confesarlo en público. Pedro sí. Era como un alumno que pasa con éxito su primer examen. Por eso Jesús le hace un reconocimiento público: "Tú eres Pedro y sobre esta piedra edificaré mi Iglesia. Yo te daré las llaves del reino".

Pedro fue el primer Papa y su tarea fue la de darnos a conocer a Cristo y mantener la unidad de la Iglesia. Es la tarea de todos los Papas hasta el fin del mundo. A nosotros nos corresponde escuchar sus enseñanzas, apoyarlo en sus acciones, defenderlo ante las críticas y rezar por él siempre.

2.  Pablo, con su predicación, nos ayudó a conocer a Cristo. Él no lo conoció en vida sino después de su resurrección. Primero fue un perseguidor de los cristianos, pero después de su conversión camino a Damasco, llevó su mensaje a todos los pueblos paganos y los convirtió a la fe católica. Su lema era: "Si Dios está por nosotros, ¿quién estará contra nosotros?" (Rm 8, 31). Estaba convencido de que "nada ni nadie podrá separarnos del amor de Cristo" (Rm 8, 39).

Nosotros, como él, debemos sacar también toda nuestra energía de esa convicción:  "¡Todo lo puedo en Aquel que me conforta!" (Flp 4, 13). Hagamos frente a nuestra existencia, con sus alegrías y dolores, sostenidos por estas ideas-madre de San Pablo.

3.  Los dos apóstoles dieron su vida por Cristo. Por caminos diferentes ambos llegaron a Roma, la capital del imperio. A Pedro lo crucificaron cabeza abajo, a Pablo lo degollaron. Pero su voz no se apagó. Los nuevos cristianos sufrieron muchas persecuciones, se escondieron en las catacumbas, murieron devorados por los leones en el coliseo y en el circo romano, pero esa sangre hizo el milagro de convertir a Roma en pocos años en la capital del cristianismo. Por eso decía Tertuliano que "la sangre de los mártires es semilla de cristianos".

El Papa Benedicto ha establecido el "año jubilar paulino" para celebrar el dos mil aniversario del nacimiento de San Pablo. El mejor modo será conociendo su vida y sus escritos e imitando su gran celo por la salvación de las almas. Pidamos a Dios por intercesión de San Pedro y San Pablo la gracia de la perseverancia final y la valentía para dar la vida por Cristo, si fuera necesario, como la dieron ellos con el testimonio del martirio. Que así sea.

Solemnity: Saints Peter and Paul (ABC)                         

PILLARS OF THE CHURCH

This feast is extremely important to Christians for we celebrate the two apostles that Christ selected to become the "pillars" of his Church, which was to carry on his work after his ascension. Peter was given the mission to establish and manage the Church; Paul, the mission to spread and propagate it throughout the world.  Remembering them on this one day, we acknowledge and celebrate the double dimension of the Church, unique and Catholic.

Sisters and Brothers:

1. Peter was the first to confess his faith in Christ. Jesus asked his disciples what men were saying or thought about him. Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit replied: "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God." The other disciples had not yet captured the essence of who the Master was, or did not yet have the courage to confess to him in public. Peter had. It was like a student who successfully passes their first critical exam. That is the reason why Jesus bestowed him with such public recognition: "You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church, and I will give you the keys to the kingdom".

Peter was our first Pope, his primary task was to introduce Jesus into our lives and maintain unity within the early Church. It is that task that all the subsequent popes have been entrusted with until the end of time. It is our solemn duty to heed the Pope's teachings, support his actions, defend him from his detractors and always pray for his enlightened calling.

2. Paul, with his preaching ways helped many to know Christ. Paul did not know him in life, only after his resurrection. Initially he persecuted Christians, but after his conversion on the road to Damascus, he brought his message to all the pagan nations and converted them to the Catholic faith. His motto was: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). He was convinced that "nothing was capable of separating us from the love of God" (Romans 8:39).

We too, like Paul, should draw energy and commitment from such a conviction. "Everything is possible with the One who comforts me" (Philippians 4:13). Let us embark on our journey, with all of its joys and sorrows, nourished by these ideals, mother of St. Paul.

3. Both Peter and Paul surrendered their lives for Jesus. They arrived in Rome, the capital of the empire, by completely different routes.  Peter was crucified upside down, while Paul was beheaded. But their voices were not silenced. Many new Christians suffered relentless persecution, hiding in the catacombs, often devoured by lions in the Coliseum and in the Roman circus; but that sacrificial blood provided the miracle of turning Rome into the capital of Christianity in a few years. Thus, Tertullian proclaimed "the blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians".

Pope Benedict XVI has declared this the "Jubilee Year of Paul" to celebrate the two thousand anniversary of the birth of St. Paul. The best way to become intimately familiar with his life and writings is by replicating his great zeal for the salvation of souls. Let us ask our Lord, through the intercession of Saints Peter and Paul, the grace to seek the courage to give up our lives for Christ, should it become necessary, as they gave theirs as testimony to their devotion and martyrdom. Thus, it shall come to pass!

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