TEACHER, APOSTLE, AND HERALD

A teacher of the Gentiles, an apostle and a herald of Jesus Christ, this is how he [St. Paul] described himself ...

"OPEN TO THE FUTURE"

"A teacher of the Gentiles" these words open to the future, to all peoples and all generations. For us Paul is not a figure of the past whom we remember with veneration. He is also our teacher, an Apostle and herald of Jesus Christ for us too.

"PAULINE YEAR"

Paul wants to speak to us today. That is why I chose to establish this special "Pauline Year": in order to listen and learn today from him...

"THE LOVE OF JESUS"

Paul's faith is being struck by the love of Jesus Christ, a love that overwhelms him to his depths and transforms him.

MOTIVATED BY LOVE

... The truth that he experienced in his encounter with the Risen One was well worth the fight, persecution and suffering. But what most deeply motivated him was being loved by Jesus Christ and the desire to communicate this love to others. Paul was a man capable of loving and all of his actions and suffering can only be explained on the basis of this core sentiment.

TRUTH , LOVE, AND SUFFERING

The task of proclamation and the call to suffer for Christ's sake are inseparable.... In a world in which falsehood is powerful, the truth is paid for with suffering. His [Paul] suffering made him credible as a teacher of truth....

"ST. PAUL, PRAY FOR US!"

Let us now thank the Lord for having called Paul, making him the light to the Gentiles and the teacher of us all, and let us pray to him: "Give us even today witnesses of the Resurrection struck by the impact of your love and able to bring the light of the Gospel in our time. St. Paul, pray for us!

(Source: Homily, First Vespers, Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul, June 28, 2008)