What Martyrdom Means Today

Today, we celebrate the Feast (or Solemnity) of Saints Peter and Paul, and this is one of those feasts that moves. It’s not always on a Sunday, but it’s always on June 29th. And the reason it’s always on June 29th is because traditionally, the Roman Empire celebrated the founding of Rome by Remus and Romulus on June 29th. And the early Church has always seen Peter and Paul of being, in a way, the fulfillment of that legend, because Peter and Paul founded the Church in Rome. And so the early Church always saw them as being the fulfillment of Remus and Romulus. And whereas Romulus killed his brother Remus out of jealousy, Peter and Paul both died to the Faith. They were martyrs. This is why we’re wearing red, why you see all the red up on the altar. Because they shed their blood for the Faith. 

Another interesting point is that in our Gospel reading, we heard Jesus tell Peter, “Peter, upon this rock I will build my church.” If you’ve ever been to Rome and had the opportunity to go into St. Peter’s Basilica and take the tour under the altar, there is where Peter is buried. Matter of fact, when they were excavating, they found graffiti on the wall that read, “Here is Peter.” And in a way, when we think about it, Scripture is so often fulfilled in different ways. And I’m struck by the idea that the church in Rome, St. Peter’s Basilica is literally built on Peter the Rock. Just as the Gospel tells us. Also, in St. Peter’s Square, there’s a giant obelisk. The Roman emperor transported it from Egypt, and it sat in the Roman circus. Today, it sits in St. Peter’s Square, marking the spot Peter was crucified upside down, where Peter gave his life for the Church. 

I mentioned Peter is buried under St. Peter’s Basilica. St. Paul is also buried in Rome. Peter, who came from Capernaum, St. Paul, who came from Tarsus - both of them are not buried in their homeland. Both of them are buried in a foreign land. And I think in a way, this feast is a reminder that no matter where we’re buried–if we’re buried in a state far away from our home, if we’re buried in a distant country, or if we’re buried in our hometown–we too are buried in a foreign land. Because we don’t belong here. We belong there [points upward]. And so this is a reminder to all of us that we are foreigners here. We belong in heaven. 

The last thing I wanted to talk about has to do with martyrdom. I’ve always imagined, in a way, that St. Peter is representative of cradle Catholics, and St. Paul is representative of converts. St. Peter was with Jesus the entire time. St. Paul… it took Jesus knocking him off a horse (yes I know he wasn’t on a horse. anyway…) to get his attention! And St. Paul has this conversion. And yet both of them are martyrs for the faith. I’ve mentioned this before - in the 20th century, more people died for the Faith than all the other centuries leading up to it. People are still being martyred for the Faith. But “martyr” means “witness,” and every single one of us is called to be a witness to the Faith. 

So, I have a homework assignment for all of you. “Oh, no!” Haha. 

If you are a cradle Catholic, I want you to come up with a 30-second elevator speech, so when somebody walks up to you and says, “Why in the world are you still Catholic?” you have an answer! And if you’re a convert, I want you to prepare a 30-second elevator speech so when someone says, “Why in the world would you become Catholic?” you have an answer. Because we’re the witnesses of the Church; we’re the witness to Christ! And we’re always supposed to be prepared to give an answer for our Faith, for our hope. 

To this day, we have martyrs willing to die for the Faith. But I say it is just as important to have witnesses willing to live for their Faith. And that’s your job: to be examples of how to live for the Faith. And our readings this morning promise us that if we are witnesses to the Faith, the Lord will send His angel to guard us. 

Because Jesus promises [that] He will never abandon us. 

And Jesus, I trust in You. 

Amen.