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From Father Andrew Bahhi: The Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul

From Father Andrew Bahhi: The Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul
July 01, 2018
in The Word
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Today we celebrate the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul and the 12th Apostles.

Jesus gave them authority when he breathed the Holy Spirit into them in the upper room. That’s why we call our church an apostolic church, because our church has originated from St. Peter.

Most of the apostles were very simple people, poor, working hard to manage their daily life. Some of them had limited abilities, but when we see Jesus teaching them the secret of the Kingdom, he shows how — with the Holy Spirit – they can continue leading the flock.

They were a small community, but through their faith and the Holy Spirit they could do what Jesus told them to do. All of them lived their lives for the sake of the faith. Much like as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:17, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” Not in anything else.

Those 12 disciples were simple people, but they were very wise in the spirit. And in 1 Corinthians 1:27, it is said, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”

If you look at the disciples, they were not very qualified people. But because they had faith in Jesus – and that was the key – Jesus chose them. And through the Holy Spirit, they can serve him not out of their strength or their talents. When they gave themselves to become disciples and gospels, Jesus transformed them and changed them through spiritual wisdom, not by human wisdom.

How can we apply this in our life, in today’s feast of St. Paul and St. Peter and the apostles? I know some of us don’t want to make motions and come and serve God. But that was the situation with the disciples, too, but Jesus changed them from very normal people to very brave people – to heroes.

Jesus chose the foolish ones, the weak ones, and that is the lesson for us. Trust in his guidance of the Holy Spirit, and to hear him and to follow him. Not because I am good, but because I trust HIS goodness.

If you feel you are weak, foolish, etc., just come to him and say, “Please Lord, make me what you want me what you want, not what I feel.” He will make you His servant and honor you. Let us in a very humble and broken heart, ask him to open our hearts, and make us and our thoughts very holy through him.

Commit your way to the Lord, trust in him and you will act. Not because you are good or talented, but because you trust him.

More from Father Andrew’s sermon video here.

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