29th Jun - SS PETER & PAUL

 Peter, the first Pope, was a fisherman from Galilee. Jesus invited him to follow him, saying: "I will make you a fisher of men." This great apostle's name was Simon, 

    but Jesus changed it to Peter, which means "rock." "You are Peter," Jesus said, "and on this rock I will build my Church." When Jesus was arrested, Peter became afraid. 

    It was then that he committed the sin of denying Our Lord three times. Fear for his safety got the best of him. But Peter repented totally. He wept over his denials for the rest of 

    his life. Jesus forgave Peter. After his resurrection, he asked Peter three times: "Do you love me?" "Lord," Peter answered, "you know all things. You know that I love you." 

    Jesus truly did know! Peter was so right. Jesus said kindly: "Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep." He was telling Peter to take care of his Church because he would be ascending into heaven.

    Jesus left Peter as the leader of his followers. Peter eventually went to Rome to live. Rome was the centre of the whole Roman Empire. Peter converted many nonbelievers there. 

    Soon after, he was taken prisoner and condemned to death. Because he was not a Roman citizen, he, like Jesus, could be crucified. This time he did not deny the Lord. 

    This time he was ready to die for him. Peter asked to be crucified with his head downward since he was not worthy to suffer as Jesus had. Peter was martyred on Vatican Hill.

    Paul is the great Apostle who first persecuted the Christians. Then he was converted. At the time of his conversion, Jesus had said: 

    "I will show him how much he must suffer for me." Paul loved Jesus very much, so much, in fact, that he became a living copy of our Saviour. 

    All his life, during his many missionary trips, Paul met troubles and went through dangers of every kind. He was whipped, stoned, shipwrecked, and lost at sea. Many, 

    many times he was hungry, thirsty and cold. Yet he always trusted in God. He never stopped preaching. "The love of Jesus presses me onward," he said. In reward, 

    God gave him great comfort and joy in spite of every suffering. He was under house arrest, waiting to be tried by Emperor Nero. Paul was freed after his first trial. 

    But then he was put in prison again. This time he was sentenced to death. Paul called himself the Apostle of the Gentiles. He preached the Gospel to the non-Jews.





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