Called to be apostles: 6-29-13--CSS Alumni Mass

            Welcome back to the heart and soul of the College of St. Scholastica—the St. Mary’s Queen of Peace Chapel.  We celebrate the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul today—the two great apostles.

            The word apostle comes from the Greek apostolos—one who is sent.  In a sense, we are each apostles of St. Scholastica, as we were sent into the world after receiving educational and technical training along a particular career path.

            More importantly, each of us is called to be an apostle of Christ.  Each in our own vocation—priest, sisters and the lay faithful—are called to proclaim the Good News in the world.  The Second Vatican Council noted the special significance you lay faithful have in this mission.  As a priest, I live in a rectory; our sisters live in a monastery.  You live in the world.

            Strive then to follow the examples of Peter and Paul, who gave everything they had to the Lord—even their lives.  Peter, arrested on more than one occasion, was executed under the Roman emperor Nero.  Paul followed shortly thereafter and had foreseen his end as he wrote to Timothy: “I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.”

            It is becoming more difficult to live out our faith the full in our country.  Religious liberty is being called into question and the Church faces new persecutions every day.  Yet we are called to give steadfast witness to our Savior.

            One way to do this is by answering Jesus’ question correctly: “…who do you say that I am?”  Many in our society would say, “He is a good man, prophet, social activist, teacher…”  Jesus is all of these things but more.  We must affirm with Peter, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”  Do you have the courage to set aside your personal opinions, political sentiments and societal influences to declare to the world, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!”  Do you have the courage to say, “You are more than a teacher, you are God”?  “You are more than an activist, you are God”?  “You are more than who I want you to be, you are God”?

            As graduates of St. Scholastica we are more than card-carrying academics.  We are called to be apostles, witnessing by our lives and possibly our deaths, to proclaim Christ. 

            Sts. Peter and Paul, pray for us!