Homily – Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,

Today, as a Mother Church, we celebrate with great joy the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul — two towering figures, two very different personalities, but one united mission: to proclaim Christ and lay the foundation of the early Church. For me, this feast is always a powerful reminder — not only of their greatness but also of God’s way of choosing people. God does not look for the best CV or perfect profile. He chooses and then transforms. He doesn’t call the qualified — He qualifies the called.

I’d like to begin with a memory from my village. As you know, I come from a very simple, ordinary background. In my village, there was no guarantee of work each day. Early in the morning, many of the men would gather in the public square — we called it the mandai. Like a kind of informal job market. Those who owned farmland or needed workers would come and choose from the gathered crowd. Naturally, they picked the strongest, most experienced, or the ones who looked the part. Those who didn’t look strong enough or useful were often left behind.

And in many ways, our modern world works the same way — CVs, qualifications, appearances. We are constantly filtered, judged, selected based on our external capacity. But Christianity is radically different. God’s gaze penetrates deeper. He sees the heart, the desire, the potential. And in that way, today’s feast gives us one of the most encouraging and hopeful messages of all.

Let’s look at Peter. A fisherman. Uneducated. Elderly. Lacking refinement. But with a good heart. Very spontaneous — sometimes childlike. “Lord, I will never betray you,” he says, and then a few hours later, he denies Him three times. And yet, it is this Peter that Jesus calls the Rock. Not John, not James. Peter. And He says, “On this rock I will build my Church.” That doesn’t make sense by human standards. But Jesus knew what Peter could become. And over time, Peter becomes that strong shepherd. Not because he had it all sorted, but because he stayed close to Christ.

Then there’s Paul. Almost the opposite of Peter. Educated, sharp, zealous — but also rigid, angry, and proud. Paul persecuted the Church. He literally approved of the killing of Christians. He was feared. But God met him. Jesus encountered him on the road to Damascus and turned his entire life around. The same Paul who once wanted to wipe out Christians now becomes the greatest missionary the Church has known — writing most of the New Testament and bringing the Gospel to the Gentiles.

What do we see in both? Imperfection. Struggle. Passion. And then transformation.

And so, dear friends, never underestimate what God can do with a life that is open to Him. I say this especially to young people here. You don’t have to be perfect to serve God. Just be willing. Just begin.

Even among Jesus’s chosen 12 apostles, think about it: one was a denier, one was a doubter, one was a betrayer, and the rest ran away in fear. But Jesus still built His Church with them. That’s the mystery of divine grace — He can use anyone, even me, even you.

Recently, I’ve seen something beautiful happening in our own parish — children, young parents, the elderly, teenagers — coming together, serving in small ways, but with great love. Some in gardening, some in sacristy work, some singing, some just showing up faithfully. All these small acts are not unnoticed by God. We are building our St Ann’s parish not with perfect bricks, but with willing hearts.

And of course, we know how their lives ended — Peter was crucified upside down. Paul was beheaded. They both died for Christ. Because once you know Him, once you love Him, even death becomes a joyful offering.

Let us take inspiration from them. You don’t have to be perfect. But be available. Be faithful. Stay close to Christ. And He will do wonders through you.

May Peter’s faith and Paul’s passion inspire us. May we live not out of fear or pride, but out of a desire to serve. God is not looking for stars. He is looking for lamps — to light the way for others. So let’s be one of them.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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