St. Mary's Catholic Church of Tomahawk, WI

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

This Sunday, the 13th week, is the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul. Both of them are strong pillars of the Church who followed our Lord with tremendous faith in Him and contributed their great sacrifice in establishing and guiding the faith of the Church. The first reading tells us about Peter being liberated by an angel from imprisonment under Herod. Peter realized this act of God only after being delivered and returned to his senses. Do we consciously realize the great deeds of God, his protection and deliverance, in our life?

In the second reading we hear about the account of Paul’s later days. In the face of death, he is shown to speak of himself as a libation poured out like Christ and he awaits the Lord's judgement, with those who have gone before him in the same manner. Paul approaches with humility and prayer. How do we wish to freely give our services to God with prayer, faith and humility?

In the Gospel we hear Peter’s profession of faith about the Lord as Christ and Son of the living God. Therefore, the Lord appreciates and acknowledges that this divinely infused faith was revealed to him by the Father in Heaven. How do we receive and respond to this faith and revelation? How do we try to remain faithful to the authority and teachings of the Church, led by the Pope, as the successor of St. Peter? What impact do these two incredible characters, St. Peter and St. Paul, have in our life?

Fr. Aloysius Royan Anthony