On Friday, April 1, 2005, Hal Fishman, television anchor for KTLA, Channel 5, in Los Angeles, and Stan Chambers, the distinguished elder stateman of television news since 1947 - decided to do a program on the legacy of Pope John Paul II, who was dying in Rome. I was invited to this live, on-air discussion.
Believe me, I was the junior partner not only in age but in wisdom. Hal Fishman mentioned that the Holy Father was a man who had transformed the papacy in the past 25 years.
Through World Youth gatherings and other outdoor religious events, even in Communist Poland, he had preached live and in person to more people than any other figure in world history, including our own Venerable Patrick Peyton.
Hal Fishman, who was Jewish, surprised us with a statement: John Paul was a combination of the profound faith of Peter and the boldness of Apostle Paul.
In the first century, they looked around at the world and saw that all roads led to Rome and that those same Roman roads could be used to spread the Good News throughout the world.
As you know, Pope John Paul II died the next day, April 2, in the twilight hour; just as the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday was underway. But this Solemnity is about Peter and Paul, not John Paul.
Peter and Paul were both flawed men, whose names Jesus changed, from Simon to Peter and from Saul to Paul.
Peter, who cried out to Jesus, when he discovers who Jesus is: "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord." To Paul, the hothead, burning with rage against the early Church, the Lord says, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
Both Apostles come to Rome, Paul in chains and under house arrest, and Peter, the leader of the early Christian community.
Both were so on fire with love for Christ that they gave everything they had to bring Him to others, even their lives.
Peter was crucified upside down because he did not consider himself worthy to die in the manner of his Master. Paul, beheaded outside the walls, after composing the majority of the New Testaments letters; whose wisdom and beauty nourish us at almost every Eucharist.
What was it that caused such passionate attachment to Christ?
If we just stop a moment, we will see that they had each encountered Christ in a life-changing moment.
From that moment on Jesus occupies the very center of their lives.
If we and our families place Jesus at the Center, then all else will fall into place and we will say with Saint Paul, "I am determined to know nothing else but Jesus Christ and Him crucified."
This is the final thought for today, for this day, for this time, for this place, for this heart of yours and mine.
Jesus, living in Mary, come and live in your servants. Amen.
- Father Willy's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
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