The Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (12 July)--The Most Important Thing: The Development of Our Interior Life

Brothers and sisters in Christ—

The Gospel reading today relates the story of the visit of the Lord Jesus to the district of Caesarea Philippi, where He asks His disciples two questions: “Whom do men say that I am?” and “Whom do you say that I am?” When addressing these questions to the disciples, He also asks us.  Each of us must come to our own personal conclusion, and each of us must arrive at a completely personal and individual love of the Saviour of our souls.

     The Holy Apostles did not come to faith in the Lord Jesus all at once.  No, they spent three years in the company of their Galilean rabbi.  It is true that they knew from the first that He was an extraordinary man.  Nevertheless, after three years in His company, they became convinced that He was the Messiah (the Anointed King of Israel promised in the Scriptures), and, after experiencing His Resurrection, they were convinced that He was God.  This was the spiritual path of the Apostles.  It is paradigmatic for all of us.  In Christianity there is no other spiritual path.  All of us must come to know the Lord Jesus personally and intimately (through Scripture, the Church and the Divine Mysteries).  This personal knowledge will grow into love through the spiritual practices of our interior life.

     The feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul is a good opportunity for us to remember that the most important thing in our life in this world is the development of our interior life, the life of prayer and meditation on the life and mysteries of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ.  This is a good opportunity to recommit to deepening that relationship with the Lord Jesus.  If we are serious about accomplishing this, there is no better way than spending at least thirty minutes a day in meditation. 

     The history of the church has given us innumerable methods of meditation, but the simplest is, perhaps, also the best.  We begin by reading the Scriptures (perhaps four verses).  Then we meditate on the meaning of the text, turning it over, again and again in our minds.  Then we pray, conversing familiarly to God concerning the insights we have learned.  Then, we sit silently in God’s presence, fixing our intention firmly upon Him.  Whenever we are distracted from our intention, we renew it, fixing it again upon the Lord.