杏MAP导航

By Lydia O'Kane

As Bishop of Rome, 杏MAP导航 Francis on Saturday celebrated the feast of the Patrons of this ancient city, Saints Peter and Paul.

Dressed in red vestments and against the backdrop of a magnificent St Peter鈥檚 Basilica, the 杏MAP导航 noted that these Apostles 鈥渟tand before us as witnesses.鈥�

During his homily, the Pontiff said, 鈥渋f we go to the heart of that testimony, we can see them as witnesses to life, witnesses to forgiveness and witnesses to Jesus.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis underlined that the lives of these Saints  鈥渨ere not neat and linear.鈥� 

鈥淭here is a great teaching here鈥�, he went on to say.  鈥淭he starting point of the Christian life is not our worthiness.鈥�

鈥淲henever we consider ourselves smarter or better than others, that is the beginning of the end.鈥�  The Lord, the 杏MAP导航 continued, 鈥渄oes not work miracles with those who consider themselves righteous, but with those who know themselves to be needy...鈥�

Humility

杏MAP导航 Francis pointed out that, throughout their lives, Peter and Paul practiced humility.

鈥淏oth understood that holiness does not consist in exalting but rather in humbling oneself鈥�, he said.  鈥淗oliness is not a contest, but a question of entrusting our own poverty each day to the Lord, who does great things for those who are lowly.鈥�

Forgiveness

Posing the question, 鈥淲hat was the secret that made them persevere amid weakness?  He answered by saying, 鈥淚t was the Lord鈥檚 forgiveness.鈥�

In their failings, these Saints, he said, 鈥渆ncountered the powerful mercy of the Lord, who gave them rebirth.  In his forgiveness, they encountered irrepressible peace and joy.鈥�

Witnesses to Jesus

Peter and Paul stressed the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渁re ultimately witnesses to Jesus.鈥�

鈥淔or those who are his witnesses, Jesus is more than a historical personage; he is a living person: he is newness, not things we have already seen, the newness of the future and not a memory from the past.鈥�

Jesus, remarked 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渄oes not care about polls or past history.  He is not looking for editors of religion, much less 鈥渇ront page鈥� Christians.  He is looking for witnesses who say to him each day: 鈥淟ord, you are my life鈥�.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 went on to explain that, 鈥渉aving met Jesus and experienced his forgiveness, the Apostles bore witness to him by living a new life: they no longer held back, but gave themselves over completely.鈥�

鈥淟et us ask for the grace not to be lukewarm Christians living by half measures, allowing our love to grow cold鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis.  鈥淟et us rediscover who we truly are through a daily relationship with Jesus and through the power of his forgiveness.鈥�

The Pallia

Towards the end of his Homily, the 杏MAP导航 noted that on this feast day the pallia for the Metropolitan Archbishops named in the past year are blessed.  

The pallium, he said, recalls the sheep that the shepherd is called to bear on his shoulders.  It is a sign that the shepherds do not live for themselves but for their sheep.鈥� 

He also greeted a Delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate. 鈥淵our presence鈥�, he told them, 鈥渞eminds us that we can spare no effort also in the journey towards full unity among believers, in communion at every level.鈥�