Pope at Mass: Let us be
challenged by Jesus, like Peter and Paul
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| Pope Francis prays before the vested statue of St Peter at the beginning of Monday's liturgical celebration (Vatican Media) |
On the Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul, Pope Francis invites
us to be builders of unity and prophets of God’s heaven on earth. In keeping
with health precautions, the Holy Father celebrated Mass at the “Altar of the
Chair” in St Peter’s Basilica, with the participation of a limited number of
the faithful.
By Christopher Wells
Pope Francis offered Mass for the Solemnity of Sts Peter and
Paul in the Vatican Basilica, built over the tomb of St Peter. In accordance
with a long-standing tradition, the Holy Father also blessed the pallia, an
ecclesiastical garment presented to metropolitan archbishops as a symbol of
unity with the Holy See.
In his homily, the Pope reflected on the themes of “unity”
and “prophecy.”
Unity the fruit of prayer
Although very different in experience and personality, Peter
and Paul were united as brothers, the Holy Father said. Their closeness to one
another was not a result of natural inclination, he explained, but came from
the Lord, who commands us to love one another. “He is the one who unites us,”
the Pope said, “without making us all alike.”
Pope Francis explained that the source of unity is prayer,
and pointed to the example of the Church praying together for St Peter when he
was in prison. The faithful of the time did not complain about persecution but
gathered together in prayer.
If we spent more time in prayer and less time complaining,
the Pope said, “so many doors would be opened, so many chains that bind would
be broken.”
Prophecy follow challenges
The challenges faced by Peter and Paul led to “prophecy,”
the second theme of the Pope’s homily. “The Apostles were challenged by Jesus,”
the Pope said: Peter, when Jesus asked the Apostles, “Who do you say that I
am?”; and Paul, when Jesus asked him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
“These challenges and reversals,” the Pope said, “are
followed by prophecies.” At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus tells Peter he will be the
rock on which He will found His Church. Paul, after his conversion, became the
Lord’s “chosen instrument” to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles.
“Prophecy is born whenever we allow ourselves to be
challenged by God,” said Pope Francis.
Need for real prophecy
“Today we need prophecy, real prophecy,” he continued. Real
prophecy does not consist in spectacular displays, but in bearing witness in
one’s life to the love of God: “This is how Peter and Paul preached Jesus, as
men in love with God.”
Their love led them to offer their lives as martyrs: “That
was prophecy,” the Pope said, “and it changed history.”
Recalling once again the Lord’s prophecy to Peter, the rock,
Pope Francis said there is a similar promise for us.
“Just as the Lord turned Simon into Peter,” the Pope
explained, “so He is calling each one of us, in order to make us living stones
with which to build a renewed Church and a renewed unity.”
Pope Francis concluded inviting everyone to allow ourselves
to “be challenged by Jesus” and to respond to His call to be “builders of
unity” and “prophets of God’s heaven on earth.”
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