Today we celebrate the the feast of Saints Peter and Paul.   For me, reflecting on the scripture for this day, reaffirms that with God anything is possible.

 In the second reading (Galatians 1:11-20) we hear Paul speak about his conversion.  Paul rightly credits God with his transformation from prime persecutor of the church to prime evangelizer for the church.  Paul knows that it was only through divine intervention and revelation that his heart and mind were converted in a very big way.

In the Gosepl (John 21:15-19) we hear about Jesus’ encounter with Peter after the resurrection.  Jesus asks Peter three times to affirm his love for him,  giving Peter the opportunity to repent for his earlier betrayal – the three times that Peter denied Jesus after his arrest.

Through these holy men we see that anything is possible for God – whether it be a dramatic and instantaneous conversion – that flash of light that bowls us over like Paul, or whether it be a more subtle and slowly ocurring conversion due to God’s kind cajoling and infinite forgiveness like that experienced by Peter. 

Whatever the case, God, in his love and mercy, gives us the opportunity over and over again to draw near to him.  No matter how far we might fall away from God and the life he desires for us, we can always come back to him by responding to his constant tug and his limitless grace.  We should never doubt this, for with God anything is possible.

 

One response to “

  1. Jim Zinsmeister

    True–and, of course, heartening!

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