Right Conviction Changes Everything: A Powerful Homily for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul
Praise be to Jesus Christ
It’s conviction that leads people; whether we realise it or not, we live by what we believe deep down. Conviction is like the steering wheel of our life. The problem is that not all conviction is right. Some people follow wrong convictions very sincerely. In fact, when someone holds a wrong conviction, they often don’t even know it’s wrong. That’s what makes it dangerous. But what we need today, more than ever, is right conviction.
And that’s exactly what we’re celebrating today. This feast of Saints Peter and Paul is not just about two saints with halos and statues. Moreover, it’s about two men who didn’t start with the right convictions; one was hot-tempered and impulsive, and the other thought violence was the way to defend God. But both of them were changed, completely, by encountering Jesus. They didn’t just adjust their thinking. Their whole life turned in a new direction, a right conviction . And that new right conviction was so strong, so sure, that they were willing to die for it.
Let me tell you a small story. It’s very ordinary, but it speaks. A boy found an old compass in his house. He thought it would help him in the forest near his home. The compass looked beautiful, but unknown to him, the needle was rusted and stuck. He trusted it completely, and had the full confidence that he was heading the right way. However, after a long time, he realised that he was totally lost. His confidence was strong, but the direction was wrong.
That’s what happens in life too. We might feel sure about something, our opinions, our attitudes, even the way we judge others, but if the basis is wrong, we could be going far… but far in the wrong direction.
Now, let’s look at Paul. Before meeting Jesus, he really believed he was doing the right thing by attacking Christians. He wasn’t pretending, he was very zealous. But he was wrong. Only when he fell to the ground and heard Jesus’ voice did he realise that his conviction was not rooted in truth. And what about Peter? He had the truth in front of him – Jesus Himself- but his heart wasn’t steady. He made bold claims, but when fear came, he collapsed.
Still, something beautiful happened. Jesus didn’t throw them away. He called them, formed them, forgave them, and planted right conviction in them. From that moment on, they were not the same. Peter, once afraid, became the Rock. Paul, once a persecutor, became a preacher of mercy.
And now, let us come to our lives. What does this mean for us, in our families, our homes, our work? It is very easy to live by popular opinion, what the crowd says, what social media says, what makes life easy. But real conviction, like that of Peter and Paul, comes from a relationship with God. It comes when we stop, listen, and allow the Lord to speak into our lives.
You know, in families today, it’s often one simple act of faith that holds everything together. A mother who keeps the Rosary going and a father who chooses honesty when others don’t. A child who says no to cheating. These are small acts, but they come from deep conviction—and they shape the soul of a family.
Peter and Paul were very different in their nature and capacities, but they were united in one thing. They had a heart anchored in Christ. They remind us that God does not need perfect people but He looks for people who are willing to be changed. And at the moment when it happens, any ordinary person would become a saint. So today, on this great solemnity, let us not just admire these saints. Let us imitate them. Let us ask ourselves: What do I believe? What am I willing to suffer for? What truth would I die for?
Let us pray: Lord, give me a right conviction and help me to lead others to YOU.
