The Apostles

 

الثلاثاء, 10 يوليو, 2007

  

 

On Thursday, 12^th July 2007 the Church will celebrate the Feast of the Apostles in which we commemorate the martyrdom of Saints Peter and Paul.  We are immensely indebted to our holy Fathersand teachers the Apostles.

 

1. The Apostles = Preached the Word of God
   
   The Apostles preached and witnessed to the Risen Lord in the Temple (Acts 17), in homes (Acts 20:7) and Acts (18:7), in market places (Acts 17:17-19), in prisons (Acts 16:23-34), by the riverside (Acts 16:13).
   
   No wonder some people marveled about ‘these uneducated and untrained men’ (Acts 4:13) who turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6).
2. The Apostles = Wrote the Gospels and Epistles
   
   ”For our Gospel did not come to you in word only but also in power and in the Holy Spirit.”  (1 Thessalonians 1:5).
   
   In articulating the entire New Testament the Apostles explained the prophecies of the Old Testament as fulfilled in the life, ministry and teachings of our Lord Jesus.  ‘The New Testament’, says St. Augustine, ‘is hidden in the Old Testament and the Old Testament is clear in the New Testament.’
3. The Apostles = Established the Churches
   
   Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the Apostles established small Christian communities from which evolved our Churches: St. Peter in Antioch, St. Mark in Alexandria, St. Paul in Rome, St. Thomas in India, St. Matthew inEthiopia.
   
   Luke says, ‘The word of God spread and the number of disciples multiplied greatly (Acts 7:6-7).  Indeed the words of David the Prophet were fulfilled, ‘Their line has gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world.’ (Psalm 19:4).
4. The Apostles = Endured Sufferings and Martyrdom
   
   The Apostles were sent out as lambs among wolves (Luke 10:3).  St. Peter and St. John were imprisoned (Acts 4:1-4), St. Stephen was stoned to death (Acts 7:54-60), St. Peter was imprisoned (Acts 12:5), St. James (brother of St. John) was killed (Acts 12:2).  As for St. Paul he was beaten with rods, stoned, 3 times shipwrecked, endured perils of robbers, perils of Gentiles, perils in the wilderness, perils from false brethren.  Moreover, St. Paul endured sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, cold and nakedness (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).  In all the Apostles were counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ (Acts 5:41).

 

In every Liturgy, during the reading of the Catholic Epistle, the Priest says silently the following prayer, “O Lord God, Who, through Your Holy Apostles, have manifested to us, the mystery of the Gospel of Christ’s glory…that they should preach in all nations the glad tidings of the unsearchable riches of Your mercy.  We ask You O our Lord to make us worthy of their share and heritage.  Grant us at all times to walk in their footsteps, imitate their struggle, and have fellowship with them in the sweat which they endured for your sake.  Guard Your holy Church which You have founded by them.  Bless the sheep of Your flock.”

 

Let us attend early the Holy Liturgy which is preceded by the Lakan Service (in fulfillment of the words of Christ, ‘if I them Your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet you ought to wash one another’s feet.’ John 13:14) and cherish deeply our Holy Apostolic Church which has been built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20).

 

Wishing you a blessed and joyous Feast of the Apostles!!

 

PPFM

Your servant

Father M