There was a show on MTV about 10 or 12 years ago called Rob and Big, not a show I’d recommend, but it was about two friends: a skateboarder and his body guard. The theme was an incredibly catchy tune about being best friends. Celebrating the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul made me think about what a gift it is to have a best friend.

Peter and Paul are both big name saints, and so it wouldn’t have been shocking for the Church to keep their feast days separate and yet, here we are celebrating this friendship, this brotherhood, of faith.

I am already being poured out like a libation. Friendships usually begin and grow with a common interest; maybe both people like country music, or painting, or playing Fortnite. When you meet someone for the first time those sorts of hobby conversations slowly build a relationship, but with Paul and Peter there was something bigger at play. Both men were living life their own way, until they met Christ; Paul on a horse, Peter on the shore. The meeting of Christ became the beginning of the story of how life got flipped turned upside down. From that first meeting both men were given the mission to be poured out for the sake of another.

It’s easy to let days fly by, taking what we want, only engaging with what will quickly satisfy our simplest desires, and yet meeting Christ both Peter and Paul were willing to give up everything and learn how to live a new normal of sacrifice. Each of us have a unique story of faith, a unique story that is worth reflecting on and sharing.

Do you remember meeting Jesus and it rocking your world a little bit? Maybe it was a singular moment that caused you to go all in, maybe it was more gradual but you’ve begun to trust He is the one to follow. How has meeting Jesus changed how you see and live life daily? If it’s hard to see a change, that doesn’t mean you’re a failure, it means we are place where we can fix our eyes on Jesus and pray for the grace to fall deeply in love with Him.

We’ve seen Peter and Paul both trip in trying to live out of that place of conversion. It takes time. Paul loses his temper, Peter denies, and we choose lesser goods. Yet, Christ’s call for us to be poured out entirely hasn’t gone away. The faith wheels might feel like they’re spinning in place, even though you deeply desire to give everything for Jesus. How can we jump start again? I think we look back to the fact we are celebrating a joint feast day.

You don’t have to navigate your story; your conversion, your mission, your being poured out, alone. We are one body of Christ. The Lord knows that we need a team, and especially we need a close brother or sister in Christ to help us continue to cry out to the Lord for strength in agreeing to a life of self-sacrifice. The Lord is incredibly proud of your efforts. Lord, show us our team, and give us the strength to live a life of a resounding yes.

Who is your best friend? How have you deepened your faith together?

When have you turned your back on the faith for something else? How did you find your way back?

How did your conversion change your life?

Who is on your team? How are you striving for Jesus together?

"Pray for me, Sts. Peter and Paul."

"Lead me to Christ."

​"Help me bring others to you."

Today, write your best friend a physical letter (not a text, snap or email) and thank them for the impact they have had in your life and share how they have brought you to Christ.

Today my Godson, Tyler, will get Baptized, receive his First Communion, and be Confirmed. I have honestly been looking forward to this for about a year and a half. Baptism is the way that Tyler can fully enter into the Church and claim his inheritance as a son of God. It is an incredibly exciting moment, but also the beginning of a difficult journey. As we read today, we are not only baptized into the life of Jesus, but also His death. 

Life is full of conflict, yet we are created for harmony. So why does conflict exist? Because of sin. Sin intrinsically separates us. We see it in our world all the time today, and throughout history. It is often said that pride is the root of all sin, but either way it is definitely the root of most of the division and conflict we experience. Death to our own pride and sinful ways is the death we must experience to experience the life promised for us through baptism.

Instead of looking at others as the cause of division in our lives, let's look inward today. Let's look at the ways our own pride and sinfulness is causing conflict and division. May the grace of our baptism help us die to those sinful ways so that we may live in the peace of Christ. And keep my Godson Tyler in your prayers today as he gets to join us in this great journey of faith.

What are some ways your pride causes division within yourself and/or with those around you?

What are some ways other sins in your life cause division within yourself and/or those around you?

How can you die to your sinfulness so you can live in the peace of Christ?

"Jesus I trust in You."

"Come, Holy Spirit."

​"Forgive me Jesus."

Today, spend some time praying through your baptismal promises today. Pray for those who are on the fence about being baptized. And pray for those who have forgotten their baptism.

A few days ago I was chatting with a friend about her 6 year old son who wants to become a priest when he grows up. My friend was telling me how one day she was not too happy with the kids and so started scolding them and the six year old – future "father" – told her: "mom, you should go to confession so you'll feel better". My friend started laughing and it actually made her feel so good hearing that from her son.

Even at a very young age, we have a feeling of unworthiness when something wrong happens. Little children run towards a loving parent when they have done wrong to confess or, like our first parents, they hide because of fear.

The Roman official approached Jesus in our gospel today and asked him for his help. To His surprise, the Lord responded immediately to tell him that he will do his wish right away. Feeling unworthy of Jesus' response of love, he said; “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.” 

We still say these words to this day every time we go to Mass before Holy Communion. We express our unworthiness but Jesus responds again with love, simply by coming into our body because He desire Holy Communion with us.

​As disciples of Jesus, every activity and action of our lives should be in the service of our friendship, our communion with Jesus. Jesus desires such friendship done in humility. He does so by first humbling Himself to be a tasteless, helpless bread in the Host. Our words: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed", are a mere gesture to respond to His humility with our humility.

​Today, may we meet our humble Lord with a holy desire to deeper friendship with Him. This holy desire is what will make us worthy and is the beginning of healing.

When you hear the centurion say those words to Jesus today, what sticks out to you? What do you hear in his voice, and what do you see in Jesus eyes as he hears the man speak?

In what ways are you being called to come before the Lord in humility today? 

In this time where many of us are slowly starting to go back to Mass, what is your heart feeling when you think about the presence of the Eucharist? How can you cultivate in yourself a true love for the gift of Jesus' body, blood, soul, and divinity given to us?

"Lord, I am not worthy."

"You can heal me."

"Come under my roof."

If your church is open, spend time in prayer in front of the tabernacle or in Eucharistic adoration, repeating the words of the centurion from today's Gospel. If it is not, pull up a live stream or just give yourself some quiet space and reflect with the Lord using these powerful words of humility.