Peter, fisher of men

We just celebrated the Feast Day of our Patron saint in the Archdiocese of Davao, St. Peter the Apostle. In trying to follow Jesus, he asked that he could walk on the water as Jesus did. He was given the opportunity but faltered. He denied Jesus three times. He was asked to put down into the deep. He was entrusted the keys of the kingdom.

As a community of disciples of Jesus Christ, do we have the courage to walk on the water — in our dialogue with other religions and faiths, in handling differing views with the government and civic leaders, in our treatment of our GKK servant leaders (GSLs) and in giving attention to the weak members of our family?

Amidst our failures, we continue to be fishers of men through our different pastoral programs catering for the growth of a worshipping, teaching and serving people. With the 39 parishes now, and a few to be erected soon, how can we put down into the deep if not “on exploring the underlying causes of conflicts, in order to promote deeper understanding and contribute to their resolution by setting in place virtuous processes” (Pope Francis)?

St. Peter pray for us.