St. Peter Chanel

2nd Friday of Easter

Acts 5:34-42; Jn 3:31-36

April 28, 2006

Corpus Christi College

The word “martyr” in early Christianity referred originally to the Apostles. The Apostles were the first models of fearless confession of their faith in Christ under persecution.

The first reading today from the Acts of the Apostles, gives us a glimpse of the suffering of the apostles as they continue to give witness of the risen Lord. “They went rejoicing that they had had the honour of suffering humiliation for the sake of the name of Jesus.”

The word “martyr” later on extended its meaning to those who shed blood, embraced suffering and death as consequence of their testimony to their faith in Jesus, Son of God and risen Saviour.

St. Peter Chanel, whom his martyrdom we remember today, was one among those who began and carried on the missionary work in the islands of Oceania. He was martyred on the island of Futuna in 1841. According to the Office of Readings today, the death of St. Peter Chanel has planted Christian faith to the people of Futuna, and even shared the fruits of his martyrdom to the other islands of Oceania.

The death St. Peter Chanel reminds the classic words of Tertullian: “the blood of the martyr is the seed of the Church; the more we are mown down, the more in number we grow.”

In his Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Oceania, Pope John Paul praised St. Peter Chanel and all others who were martyred in Oceania, he said, “they are not the only greatest glory of the Church’s past in Oceania but also its surest source of hope for the future…May their memory never be forgotten! May they never cease to intercede for the peoples for whom they shed their blood.”

Whenever, we celebrate the feast of the martyrs into liturgical celebration, we recall not only the martyr’s heroic deeds and their marvelous contribution to the Church but above all, we recognise Christ as the first martyr, who shed his blood of our salvation. As we remember today, St. Peter Chanel’s martyrdom or his ‘birthday’ in heaven, we glorify Christ who gave him strength to face his death for the sake of the people of Futuna.

St. Peter Chanel tells us that he could stand any kind of physical torture and painful death, not by his own power and endurance, but by the strength he received from Christ. For St. Peter Chanel and all Christian martyrs, Jesus Christ alone is source of their hope for the future. As in the Psalm today says: “The Lord is the stronghold of my life: before whom shall I shrink?”

The story of the multiplication of the bread in the Gospel, demonstrates that Jesus has gifts and resources to meet the full range of human needs. He supplies the daily bread that people need to sustain life. The feeding of the crowd thus confirms that Jesus is the source of our strength, he is the source of life and indeed: he is the surest hope for the future.

So as we prepare ourselves for our future ministry in proclaiming the holiness and truth of the Word of God, let us put our complete confidence in the Risen Christ, who is our hope and our life.

And like the saints and martyrs, let us pray that the witness of our faith will shine forth in our daily lives – so like St. Peter Chanel, we may as well become surest hope for the future of the Church.
- John Joel 4:00 AM

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Happy feast day to all my friends in St. Peter Chanel Parish, Deer Park!:)