Jun 29 – Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, apostles
Peter (c.1–64) was a professional fisherman. He was the brother of St. Andrew the Apostle, the man who led him to Christ. Given the name Simon, he was renamed “Peter” (rock) by Jesus to indicate that Peter would be the rock-like foundation on which the Church would be built. He later became a bishop and was the first pope. He was also a miracle worker.
Paul (c.3–c.65) was a Jewish Talmudic student and a Pharisee. He was a tent-maker by trade. Saul the Jew hated and persecuted the Christians as heretical, even assisting at the stoning of St. Stephen the Martyr. On his way to Damascus, Syria, to arrest another group of faithful, he was knocked to the ground, struck blind by a heavenly light, and given the message that in persecuting him, causing his conversion to Christianity.
He was baptized, changed his name to Paul to reflect his new persona, and began travelling, preaching, and teaching. His letters to the churches he help found form a large percentage of the New Testament. He knew and worked with many of the earliest saints and Fathers of the Church. He died a martyr for the faith.
- Patron Saint Index
Acts 12:1-11
2 Tim 4:6-8,17-18
Mt 16:13-19
The Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message might be proclaimed….
Earlier this month, I was invited to join a group of youth and young adults serving at a retreat. I had not served at a retreat, nor with young adults, since before the pandemic and I approached it with some trepidation.
In the week leading up to the retreat, my emotions were a mix of frustration, worry and pride. During confession, I shared these feelings with a priest. What troubled me most was pride.
To put things in context, I am newly minted into the helping profession. My role at the retreat was to be a spiritual companion to the retreatants. I felt a tension between my professional training and my spiritual calling. I wondered how listening to these young people and helping them recognise God’s hand in their lives might somehow clash with the theories and techniques that now occupy my mind. I knew that all I needed to do was be present and listen; yet, the tension remained.
Among the many nuggets of wisdom the priest offered, two verses stayed with me: “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” (Mt 22:21), and “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). Holding these words in my heart, I entered the retreat with greater clarity and confidence.
“Put on your belt and your sandals.”
“Put on your cloak and follow me.”
I went in with humility. I simply had to follow Him, trust where He led me, and trust that He would guide my thoughts and words.
The retreat went well. Yet I came away feeling burdened — not physically — but, mentally and emotionally. Two encounters, in particular, have stayed with me.
The first carried the weight of caring deeply and wanting to avoid causing harm. I felt angry on behalf of this individual, believing that this person had been failed, unheard, and perhaps justice was not served. My mistake was moving too quickly into problem-solving mode. In doing so, I may have ruptured the relationship. I spent much of the next day replaying the encounter in my mind. I wondered how I could have done better.
The second encounter was different. I simply offered my availability to someone who had been resistant from the start. We spoke for a long time, and she seemed to experience what it felt like to have someone care enough about her—her actions, behaviour, and feelings—to listen. I did what I knew how to do, while also bringing God into the conversation.
What made me uncomfortable was that she later asked whether she could see me professionally. I sidestepped the question. I struggled with the boundaries between my role at the retreat and my professional training. I did not want my service to feel transactional, or worse still, be seen as an opportunity to recruit a potential client.
In the days that followed, I reflected on how I might respond should a similar situation arise again. I came to a greater sense of peace. I will continue to protect the purity of the retreat encounter, but neither will I hide my professional capacity if asked directly.
“I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.”
“The Lord stood by me and gave me strength.”
Like Peter and Paul, I am learning that discipleship is not about having all the answers or getting everything right. It is about allowing the Lord to lead, trusting Him in my weaknesses, and remaining faithful to the task before me.
Thank you, Jesus, for sustaining me, teaching me, and reminding me that it is Your work, not mine.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Geraldine Nah)
Prayer: Lord Jesus, teach me to walk each day with humility, wisdom, and trust in You. Help me to listen with an open heart, to speak with gentleness, and to act with love. When I am uncertain, guide me. When I am prideful, humble me. When I am tired or burdened, remind me that Your grace is enough. Help me to surrender my own plans and to follow where You lead, trusting that You will give me the strength and courage I need for each day. Amen.
Thanksgiving: Thank You, Lord, for Your constant presence in my life. Thank You for walking with me in moments of joy, struggle, uncertainty, and growth. Thank You for the ways You teach, guide, and sustain me, even when I do not always see it clearly. Thank You for Your patience, Your mercy, and Your faithfulness. May I continue to trust in You, lean on Your strength, and recognise Your hand in the ordinary moments of each day. Amen.
Image: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/68748183270/
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