Peter and Paul remind us that God’s mercy can turn weakness into witness and failure into faith
by Sister Lynne Marie Simonich
This year we celebrate the Feast of St. Peter and Saint Paul on Sunday, June 29. Did you know that Vatican City celebrates this feast as a public holiday? There are other countries that do this also.
We know that Peter denied knowing Jesus three times before the crucifixion. The Gospel of St. Luke tells us that Peter “wept bitterly” afterwards. After the resurrection, Peter confessed his love and faith in Jesus and went on to lead the early church.
Before his conversion Paul persecuted the early Christians. He turned from being a persecutor to becoming a missionary – spreading the Gospel message wherever he went.
Both Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome. They were offered God’s mercy and turned their lives around. Their stories show us that everyone is capable of change and of doing good. God’s grace and mercy abound for all of us. We are truly blessed.