Today, 22nd of February, we celebrate
The Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle
Brothers and sisters:
You have not approached that which could be touched
and a blazing fire and gloomy darkness
and storm and a trumpet blast
and a voice speaking words such that those who heard
begged that no message be further addressed to them.
Indeed, so fearful was the spectacle that Moses said,
“I am terrified and trembling.”
No, you have approached Mount Zion
and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,
and countless angels in festal gathering,
and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven,
and God the judge of all,
and the spirits of the just made perfect,
and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant,
and the sprinkled Blood that speaks more eloquently
than that of Abel.
R./ O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.
Great is the Lord and wholly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, fairest of heights,
is the joy of all the earth.
R./ O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.
Mount Zion, “the recesses of the North,”
the city of the great King.
God is with her castles;
renowned is he as a stronghold.
R./ O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.
As we had heard, so have we seen
in the city of the Lord of hosts,
In the city of our God;
God makes it firm forever.
R./ O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.
O God, we ponder your mercy
within your temple.
As your name, O God, so also your praise
reaches to the ends of the earth.
Of justice your right hand is full.
R./ O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.
Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two
and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick
–no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.
He said to them,
“Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there.
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,
leave there and shake the dust off your feet
in testimony against them.”
So they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
Dear brothers and sisters, peace and blessings to you.
After spending time with Jesus and learning from Him, the Master sends His disciples out to preach in different places. This passage offers a deep reflection on mission, calling, and faithfulness to God in serving others.
A Mission of Trust and Simplicity
The passage begins with Jesus’ instruction to the apostles:
«Go and proclaim the Gospel.»
But He also gives them specific instructions. He tells them to go in pairs, as a sign of mutual support and solidarity, and to take only what is necessary—a radical expression of trust in God’s providence.
This emphasis on poverty is central. It shows that the mission does not depend on material resources but on obedience and the power of God, who works through human weakness.
Facing Rejection with Peace
Jesus also teaches the apostles to be flexible and to adapt. He tells them that if they are not welcomed in a town or home, they should shake the dust from their feet as a testimony.
This action has a strong symbolic meaning:
The lesson here is that rejection is part of the journey. Success in mission is not about immediate results—it is about remaining faithful to the call, trusting that God will touch hearts in His time.
Living the Gospel, Not Just Preaching It
This passage also challenges us to reflect on our own missionary life.
All of us are called to share the Gospel, whether in our families, workplaces, or communities. However, like the apostles, we must accept that we will not always be welcomed. There will be moments of rejection and misunderstanding.
But our faithfulness to Christ is not measured by how many people accept our message—it is measured by our willingness to follow Him despite challenges.
Jesus also tells the apostles to heal the sick and drive out demons. This reminds us that evangelization is not just about words—it must also be lived out through concrete actions.
Faith becomes real when it is accompanied by:
The power of the Gospel is seen in the coherence between what we say and how we live.
The Power of Community in Mission
Finally, the passage highlights the importance of community in mission.
Jesus sends the disciples two by two, emphasizing that evangelization is not a solitary task but one that thrives in communion with others.
We are not called to evangelize alone—we are called to share and strengthen our faith together.
Our Call to Be Missionary Disciples
Today, as in the time of the apostles, we are called to be missionary disciples.
Mission is not just for a few—it is for all followers of Christ.
Following the example of the apostles, we must be willing to:
May we trust that the Lord walks with us in every step of this journey.
Your brother in faith,
Alejandro Carbajo, C.M.F.In 1597, twenty-six Christians were nailed to crosses at Nagasaki, Japan. The best-known among them was Paul Miki, but there was also a Spanish Franciscan who had worked about ten years in the Philippines, Pedro Bautista. Their feast reminds us that the Cospel is not destined merely for traditionally Christian countries. Everywhere in the world there are people who can follow Christ in a radical way, perhaps more consistently than we are willing to do. The Church is destined for al! people.
God, Father of ail,
we honor today missionaries and their flock
in whom Christ lived
and in whom he was crucified.
Give that to the messengers and teachers
of the Good News of Jesus,
that they may be one with their people
in life and in death
and dedicated to one another
and to you, our loving God,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
God our Father
from the rising of the Sun to its setting
let your faithful people celebrate
the holy sacrifice of Jesus your Son.
Let this be a living witness
that you are the Father of al!
and that Jesus lived and died for alI
to make us ah one,
now and for ever.
God our Father,
your Son Jesus, invites al! to his table,
however different we may be
in faces, character, personality, nationality.
May we dream and work with Jesus
for a new humanity everywhere,
where we !earn to encounter al! peop!e
in their multifaceted human dignity
and in the riches of their culture.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
