Working Through You

“The Lord stood by me and gave me strength,
so that through me the proclamation might be completed
and all the Gentiles might hear it.”

2 Timothy 4:17

Not too long after St. Paul penned his second letter to Timothy did he glorify God by his martyrdom. While imprisoned awaiting his death, the time when he was to meet the One he once persecuted, St. Paul acknowledged that it was the Lord strengthened him and it was the Lord who stood by him, not just in prison, but throughout his ministry. Undoubtedly, St. Paul did great works during his ministry, spreading the Good News to the Gentiles, converting the hearts of many, but St. Paul knew that it was the Lord who did the great works through him.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, the two great Apostles who were instrumental in the propagation of the Faith in the early Church. These two men did not necessarily have clean records. St. Peter denied Christ and St. Paul persecuted Christ in the Christians. Yet, they were chosen to be messengers of the One whom one denied and the other persecuted. It was in being chosen that they realized the Lord had always been by them, strengthening them and encouraging them. God does not choose the strong or the most qualified, He simply chooses those whom He has called. And brothers and sisters, God has called you.

There is a special calling for each one of us. Some may say “Well I am not holy at all!” or “I have a lot of shortcomings; I am sure God has someone else better in mind…” But the answer is “No.” God does have others in mind, but they each too have their own unique calling. It is not our perfection or strengths that God sees; it is only our hearts that He see. He saw the repentant hearts of Peter and Paul and He loved them. God sees our hearts and He loves us, and He wants to work through us so that all peoples might come to know and experience His love and mercy. Will we let God work through us today?

Saints Peter and Paul, pray for us!