Hamle 5 — July 12

A Big, Joyful Feast: Peter and Paul

Today is a great and happy feast! We celebrate two of Jesus' best friends and helpers: Saint Peter and Saint Paul. They are called the chiefs of the apostles, the close helpers Jesus sent out to teach the whole world about Him.

Peter and Paul were very different from each other. But God loved them both, and they both gave their whole hearts to Jesus. Together they taught people all over the world the good news about God. Because of them, more people than anyone could count came to love Jesus.

Peter, the Fisherman Who Loved Jesus

Peter came from a little town called Bethsaida, and he was a fisherman. He spent his days out on the water with his nets. Then Jesus called him to come and follow, and Peter left his boat right away.

Peter loved Jesus with all his heart. He was brave and full of faith. One day Jesus asked His friends who they thought He was. Peter answered first and best of all.

Because of this strong faith, Jesus made Peter the leader of the apostles. After Jesus went up to heaven, Peter traveled far and wide, teaching everyone about Him. God worked great wonders through Peter's prayers. Once, a man's two sons had died, and Peter prayed, and God gave the boys back, alive and well! Everyone who saw it thanked God with great joy.

Peter taught in big cities, even mighty Rome. He stayed faithful to Jesus all his life, right to the very end, and then he went home to be with the Lord he loved so much.

You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.— Saint Peter, Matthew 16:16

Paul, Who Changed His Whole Heart

Paul has a surprising story. At first, his name was Saul, and he was not a friend of Jesus at all. He did not believe, and he wanted to stop people from teaching about Jesus.

One day Saul was walking on the road to a city called Damascus. Suddenly a bright light from heaven shone all around him, and he heard Jesus' own voice ask him gently, "Saul, why are you fighting against Me?" Saul was so amazed that for three days he could not see.

Then God sent a kind man named Ananias to pray for him. When Ananias laid his hands on him, Saul could see again! From that day, his heart was brand new. He believed in Jesus, was baptized, and even got a new name: Paul.

Now Paul loved Jesus more than anything. He traveled to faraway lands, teaching about God and praying for people. God healed the sick through him, and he even helped a man who had never walked stand up and walk. Paul also wrote many letters to help Christians be brave and kind. We still read his letters in the Bible today!

Paul stayed faithful to Jesus to the very end of his life, just like his friend Peter, and then he went home to God.

Saul, Saul, why do you fight against Me?— the voice of Jesus on the road

Friends Forever in Heaven

There is a beautiful part of the story. After Peter and Paul went home to God, a young girl who loved Jesus saw them! They were dressed like kings, with shining crowns on their heads, and they were full of joy.

This reminds us that the saints are alive with God forever. Peter the fisherman and Paul who changed his heart are happy in heaven now, and they pray for us. Jesus promised that everyone who remembers them and does kind things will be blessed.

The Other Friends We Remember Today

Today we also remember the Seventy-two Disciples. These were helpers Jesus sent out, two by two, to tell people the good news about God. They worked hard to share His love everywhere they went.

We remember a holy man named Isaac, who lived in a city called Gaza, and the good and prayerful fathers who lived at a place called Debre Ash. They spent their lives praying and serving God.

We celebrate the feast of Sakue'el too, one of God's mighty archangels. We also remember a faithful woman named Maskal Kibra, and Marcellus, the son of Yona, who learned from Saint Paul. All of them loved God and now rejoice with Him.