The Marks of an Apostle

St. Peter

I guess this is a good classic art work of St. Peter--who is to really know his likeness?  One thing is for sure and that is we know his marks of Apostleship--love of the Lord, faithfulness, witness, and martyr.  He was crucified upside down to mock his allegiance to Jesus.

No, the mark I am after is the daily perseverance through all the world could possibly toss at him.  He walked on.  He walked through it!  The wounds gave witness...through the wounds, life imparted to others.  How many of us carry the wounds of life which become scars and no longer convey life?

It is one of the great mysteries of life that the wounds of life become blessings for others.  I think Henri Nouwen with his book, The Wounded Healer, was one of the leaders to get this description out there--"by his wounds we are healed."

So what is it that keeps us from the conversion?  These wounds of life to become the blessings for life and living?  I have heard it said that Jesus still carries us on his cross...and in his company, like St. Peter who denied him 3x, we too are healed for apostleship as only we can carry it out.