Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.  Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

What a grace God has given us through the Church and its sacraments! He has provided us with everything we need to prevail against evil and to free ourselves from sin. All we have to do is trust in Jesus and be obedient to the teachings and traditions of the Church. There is no feeling of freedom like the one we receive through the sacraments. Through baptism, we are freed from original sin. Through reconciliation, we are freed from our sins of commission and omission. Through the sacrament of communion, we are united together with the Body and Blood of Christ and are freed from our venial sins. Through the sacrament of confirmation, we accept our calling to be witnesses to our faith, by word and deed. Through the anointing of the sick, we unite ourselves to the Passion of Christ. Through the sacrament of marriage, we are given the graces we need to unite as husband and wife. Through the sacrament of ordination, we are configured to Christ and become apostolic ministers.

Are we making every use of the graces God has offered us through the Church and its sacraments? Do we follow the teachings and traditions of the Church? How do we prepare ourselves to receive the sacraments?

O Lord, thank you for the blessing you’ve offered us through your Church and its sacraments.

Amen.