St Margaret Roman Catholic Church

Saints and Peter and Paul, Apostles (Solemnity)

The Lord stood by me. (2 Timothy 4:17)

At the foot of the steps leading into St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome stand two commanding statues, one of St. Peter and the other of St. Paul. Each statue is eighteen feet tall and sits on a sixteen-foot-tall pedestal. Standing at opposite ends of the steps, these statues act both as sentinels guarding the church and as emblems of the Church spread throughout the world.

In his statue, St. Peter is depicted with a large key, which recalls how Jesus gave him the “keys to the Kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:19). He has an expression of care and concern as he looks down toward the people gathered in the square: a pastor whose heart is full of love for his people.

St. Paul’s statue depicts him looking out intently, with an opened scroll in one hand and a sword in the other—“the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). He is the determined, fiery apostle to the Gentiles, whose letters in the New Testament proclaim the glory of the risen Lord and the power of life in the Holy Spirit.

These are the men we are celebrating today: two pillars of the Church who gave their lives for the gospel. Two men whose writings, preaching, and witness made it possible for the Church to spread out from Jerusalem and cover the whole world.

Near the end of his life, Paul wrote that the Lord had stood by him even when everyone else had deserted him (2 Timothy 4:16-17). As Peter sat in prison, wondering if he would be executed the next morning, an “angel of the Lord stood by him” and set him free (Acts 12:7). This is how these men were able to serve the Church so faithfully. They trusted that God was with them through thick and thin. And that trust held them steady, right up to their final days and their martyrdoms.

In our hearts, just as in St. Peter’s Square, Peter and Paul stand tall as two of the greatest heroes of our faith. Each in his own way shows us what loving, faith-filled discipleship looks like. How blessed we are to have them as part of our history!

“Sts. Peter and Paul, pray for us! We want to be just as faithful as you were.”

Acts 12:1-11
Psalm 34:2-9
Matthew 16:13-19

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Solemnity)

He sets it on his shoulders with great joy. (Luke 15:5)

Some people would say that the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the heart of a shepherd, and with good reason. Three out of our four readings today speak to us about shepherds: shepherds who take good care of their sheep, who lead them and feed them, who seek and heal the scattered ones. But today’s Gospel gives us another insight into the kind of shepherd Jesus is: one who rejoices.

That’s one aspect of Jesus’ Sacred Heart that we might not think about too much. We know that Jesus reveals his love, his “heart,” through his suffering and death. You could say he “finds” us, just as the shepherd finds the lost sheep in today’s parable. But Jesus adds a detail in this parable that we might pass over too quickly: the shepherd isn’t gloomy or annoyed that he has found his lost sheep. Neither does he scold the sheep for running off. Rather, he is filled with joy.

Jesus loves to seek and find the lost. He doesn’t get frustrated even if you stray time after time. He won’t give up on you, and he won’t give up on your loved ones. He will keep looking until the very end. Because he loves every one of his sheep and knows what joy awaits when he brings them home, he goes out in joyful anticipation, not in grumbling resentment.

Take some time today to consider the Sacred Heart of Jesus not just as a suffering heart but as a joyful heart. Imagine you are that lost lamb, and your shepherd is pursuing you with eagerness and determination. In your mind’s eye, see his face light up as he spots you and reaches out for you. Feel the warmth of his joy as he lifts you onto his shoulders to carry you home.

Let this joy that Jesus has for you be your strength. Let it also be your comfort as you pray for a loved one who appears to be lost. God is unwearied in his love for you and for them. He rejoices in reaching out to all his wayward children!

“Jesus, help me embrace your shepherd’s heart today. I want to be found by you.”

Ezekiel 34:11-16
Psalm 23:1-6
Romans 5:5-11

www.mshr.org

Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Optional Memorial)

I never knew you. (Matthew 7:23)

Have you ever known a namedropper? You know, someone who always mentions the important people he or she knows? Usually, the person is exaggerating, with some distant connection or contact turning into “I know that person well!”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus makes it clear that name-dropping doesn’t work with him. He wants to have a real, living relationship with us. He doesn’t want us to settle for a passing acquaintance. He wants us to know him personally, just as he knows us. Even if we’re busy doing his work—whether in our homes, in our communities, or in our parishes—he wants us also to be growing closer to him in our hearts. Jesus doesn’t want just servants; he wants friends.

What does it mean to know Jesus personally? How does anyone go about building a relationship with the eternal Son of God? It may sound awfully complicated, but it really isn’t. It’s pretty much the same way you build a relationship with anyone else. You spend time with him; you talk to him; you listen to him; you learn to trust him; you share secrets with him; you let him see you at your best and at your worst.

Don’t let the tone of today’s Gospel reading frighten you. Jesus deeply wants you to come to know him, but he’s not about to abandon you because your relationship with him isn’t as deep as the holiest of saints. Rather than worrying about whether Jesus will say, “I never knew you,” make it your goal to come to know him better.

Wherever you are with Jesus now, try to go a little deeper. As you read Scripture, listen a little more closely for his voice in your heart. Get in the habit of writing down what you think he is saying. Then take the time to talk to him. Tell him about your day. Open up about your hopes and fears, and see if you sense him offering you his guidance or consolation. By investing in this relationship, you are building your house on a foundation solid enough to withstand any storm.

“Lord, I want to know you and to be known by you. Draw me to yourself.”

Genesis 16:1-12, 15-16
Psalm 106:1-5