Without me you can do nothing
One day for the passion of two Apostles. But those two also
were as one; although they suffered on different days, they were as one...
The Lord showed Paul
what things he would have to suffer for the sake of his name. After that he
tested and trained him with hardships. It was he that tested him with chains,
he that did it with beatings, he with imprisonments, he with shipwrecks. He it was
that procured him his passion, he that brought him finally to this day. One day
for the passion of two Apostles. But those two also were as one; although they
suffered on different days, they were as one....
We are celebrating a
feast day, consecrated for us by the blood of the Apostles. Let us love their
faith, their lives, their labours, their sufferings, their confession of faith,
their preaching. We make progress ourselves, you see, by loving them, not by
celebrating these things just for worldly pleasure and enjoyment. After all,
what are the martyrs looking for from us? They must have very little, if they
are still looking for human praises. If they're still looking for human
praises, they haven't yet overcome. But if they have overcome, they are not
looking for anything from us for their own sakes; but they are looking for it
for our sakes. So let our way be directed toward the Lord. It was a narrow way,
a thorny way, a rough way; but with the passage of so many and such wonderful
feet it has become smooth. The Lord himself went along it first, the Apostles
went along it fearlessly; after them the martyrs, boys, women, girls. But who
was in them? The one who said, Without me you can do nothing (Jn 15:5).