杏MAP导航

By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ

During his Angelus on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, 杏MAP导航 Francis reflected on the life of Saint Peter, contrasting his deliverance from prison by an angel in Monday鈥檚 First Reading (Acts 12: 1 鈥� 11), with his later imprisonment in Rome and martyrdom. 

杏MAP导航 Francis asked: 鈥淗ow come he (Saint Peter) was first spared the trial, and then not?鈥�

Making our lives a gift

杏MAP导航 Francis explained that the Lord granted Saint Peter 鈥渕any graces and freed him from evil鈥� in the same way that He does to us.

Even though we often go to God 鈥渙nly in moments of need鈥�, he pointed out, 鈥淕od sees beyond and invites us to go further, to seek not only His gifts, but Him; to entrust to Him not only problems, but life.鈥�

In this way, God 鈥渃an finally give us the greatest grace, that of giving life鈥�, because the 鈥渕ost important thing in life is to make life a gift.鈥� 

杏MAP导航 Francis pointed out that "God desires making us grow in giving" as "only in this way can we become great."

Recalling the example of Saint Peter, 杏MAP导航 Francis said that 鈥渉e did not become a hero because he was freed from prison, but because he gave his life there.鈥�

Saint Peter 鈥渢ransformed a place of execution into the beautiful place of hope in which we find ourselves,鈥� said the 杏MAP导航.

A blessed and happy life

鈥淗ere is what to ask of God: not only the grace of the moment, but the grace of life,鈥� said 杏MAP导航 Francis.

Citing the Gospel reading from Mt 16: 13 鈥� 19, the Holy Father said that Jesus鈥檚 question to his apostles about his identity and Peter鈥檚 response changed the life of Saint Peter.

Jesus asked his disciples: 鈥淲ho do you say I am?鈥�. And Peter answered, 鈥淵ou are the Messiah, the Son of the living God鈥�. And Jesus continued, 鈥淏lessed are you, Simon son of Jonah鈥� (Mt 16: 16-17).

杏MAP导航 Francis explained that Jesus鈥檚 word 鈥渂lessed鈥� means 鈥渉appy鈥�. Jesus said 鈥測ou are blessed鈥� in response to Peter who proclaimed Jesus as 鈥渢he living God鈥�.

The secret of a blessed and happy life therefore, is 鈥渞ecognizing Jesus, but Jesus as the living God,鈥� he said. 

The place of Jesus in our lives

杏MAP导航 Francis explained that Simon鈥檚 name was changed to 鈥渞ock鈥� when Jesus said: 鈥淵ou are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church鈥� (Mt. 16: 18). This was not because Peter was a 鈥渟olid and trustworthy man鈥� rather, because 鈥淛esus is the rock on which Simon became stone.鈥�

He added that 鈥渋t is not important to know that Jesus was great in history鈥� nor is it important 鈥渢o appreciate what He said or did.鈥� Rather, what matters is 鈥渢he place I give Him in my life.鈥�

In this regard, the 杏MAP导航 invited us to ask ourselves: 鈥淗ow do I arrange my life? Do I think only of the needs of the moment or do I believe that my real need is Jesus, who makes me a gift? And how do I build life, on my capacities or on the living God?"

In conclusion, 杏MAP导航 Francis prayed that Our Lady, who entrusted everything to God, might help us to put Him at the center of our daily lives.