A hero can be anyone. A rock star, a public servant, an athlete or a spiritual figure. Heroes often emerge in times of need and struggle – in times of crisis and tragedy. Someone once said, “A hero is no braver than anyone else – but a hero is braver five minutes longer.”
When disaster strikes – when ships sink, buildings burn and danger looms – heroes are born. But not all heroes are born in disaster. Some heroes rise by standing up to injustice, by choosing what is right, true and just, even when it’s hard.
Today we celebrate two such heroes. Peter, the fisherman who became the rock of the Church. And Paul, the persecutor who became the ambassador of the word and apostle to the Gentiles. Both men were called by Jesus directly. For Peter, it was a simple and personal invitation: “Come and follow Me.” Leaving his nets, his boat and his family, Peter followed.
Paul dashed from his house while still uttering threats of violence and murder against disciples of the Lord. On the way to Damascus, he sees a vision of the risen Christ. The Lord says, “I am Jesus, the One whom you are persecuting.” This was Paul’s conversion moment, and he became one of the most important figures in Christianity.
Both Peter and Paul experienced what St. Augustine taught several centuries later: “If we but turn to God, that itself is a gift to God.”
Jesus doesn’t promise us an easy road. He did not say, “Without Me, it will be hard.” He said, “Without Me, you can do nothing.” Like Peter and Paul, we must grow into discipleship, one step at a time, carrying our own crosses. There is no true following of Christ without sacrifice.
In those early days, neither Peter nor Paul realized what discipleship involved. They had to grow in understanding. Their faith would grow so strong that they would both die for Christ.
As followers of Jesus, we do not need to suffer violent deaths. But there is no following of Jesus that does not include a cross. We must live with Jesus not only in Bethlehem and Nazareth, but on Calvary and Gethsemane.
At some point, we all must answer the question: “What are you looking for when you turn to Jesus?” Some turn to Him because He is the God of the impossible. Others turn to Him simply because we have been called. Jesus chose us to follow Him.
But turning to Jesus is not a one-time event. Conversion is a lifelong process. The true disciple is constantly turning to Christ, looking for Him. As St. Ignatius once wrote, “Let me know the Lord more dearly. Follow Him more nearly.”
From time to time, we must ask ourselves, are we living our discipleship? It is a full-time job. We may not have to think of Him all the time, but we are called to think like Him. We may not be able to reproduce the miracles of Jesus – but we can reproduce His love.
At different points in your life, Jesus will ask, “What are you looking for?” That question reveals what matters most to you – your hopes, your faith, your heart. It tells Jesus not just what you seek, but who you are becoming.
And when you answer with faith, love and courage, you may just discover: you were becoming a hero all along.
