This weekend we celebrate Saints Peter and Paul. Men very different in background and outlook. We tend to focus on the greatness of their sainthood and their particular role in our church as pillars of teaching and authority, but their own journey of faith was fraught with difficulty.

Paul was a persecutor of the church and witnessed the death of St Stephen of which he approved. Peter, who said he would die for Jesus, denies him three times.

At the point of Paul’s conversion the Christians are so scared of him that they think it’s a hoax to enable him to identity, arrest and punish them. For Peter, he is so ashamed of his betrayal that he never brings himself to apologise for it and it is Jesus who forgives him.

Despite of our own instinctive desire to follow the Lord, like Peter and Paul, we are also a collection of weakness and frailty. We betray Jesus as readily as we affirm him as Lord; often in small ways imperceptible to others but known to our hearts.

What unites Peter and Paul is a recognition that simply acknowledging Jesus as Lord, God, and Saviour is insufficient to bring salvation to the world and to transform the believer into the image of Christ; belief is not enough.

We all need the infusion of the power of God into hearts, minds and souls. The seven-fold gifts of the Holy Spirit - wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and awe of God; gifts we have received through Baptism and Confirmation. Do you pay attention to the amazing gifts that you have really and truly received? Have you considered how to put these gifts to use to bring the kingdom of God into your hearts and our world?

We see how the Holy Spirit transforms Peter and Paul, we can see it in what they write and what happens in their lives. They bring the Word of life, Jesus, to others, by their words and actions; in turn they are rescued from the lions mouth of their own infirmities and weaknesses.

Jesus is the way to eternal life, the life of Peter and Paul, in different ways, through teaching and apostolic succession in the church, illuminate the way, our way, to eternity.

St Peter and St Paul, pray for us.

Next Friday I will be in Lourdes for two weeks serving as a chaplain to the sick. Please be assured of my prayers for your intentions during my time there. If you have a particular intention please feel free to post it to: office.stjeannejugan@dioceseofleeds.org.uk

As always, please be assured of my daily prayers for your needs and intentions.

Fr Chris