Faith Building Witness of Sts Marcellinus & Peter – Jun 02 – Homily – Fr Joseph Michael

 

Fr. Joseph Michael McShane gives the homily on Jun 02, 2026, teaching that we are stamped with God's image like a coin bears Caesar's and must therefore give our love and service to God while remaining faithful citizens, and he honors the early martyrs, Sts. Marcellinus and Peter for their zeal under persecution.

In this homily, Fr. McShane explains Jesus' teaching that we should give to Caesar what belongs to him and to God what belongs to God. Since we are made in God's image, especially through baptism, we owe God our love, service, and faithfulness. He then tells the story of two early Christian martyrs, St. Marcellinus, a priest, and St. Peter, an exorcist. They preached bravely during a time of persecution, performed a miracle that led a jailer's family to faith, and stayed strong even when facing torture and death. Their courage inspired their executioner to convert, and their story was passed on to the Church.

Pope John Paul II – Martyrdom witnesses holiness of God's law and human dignity – https://airmaria.com/go/qxd3L6
Commission – Human dignity based on imago Dei and orientation to God – https://airmaria.com/go/sDz7Lc
Matthew 22:21 – Rendering to God what is God's – https://airmaria.com/go/T3A67D
Genesis 1:27 – Humanity created in God's divine image – https://airmaria.com/go/Eu92QR
CCC 357 – Human dignity from being God's image – https://airmaria.com/go/NvW9Ax
CCC 2242 – Balance of duties to God and state – https://airmaria.com/go/5xwLaN
CCC 2473 – Martyrdom as supreme witness to truth – https://airmaria.com/go/LVKehg

00:00 - Stamped in the Image of God
00:54 - Giving to God What Belongs to God
01:46 - Sts. Marcellinus and Peter
02:22 - Miracles and Conversions in Prison
03:01 - Martyrdom and the Executioner's Conversion
04:58 - Honored in the Roman Canon

Ave Maria!

Mass: Sts. Marcellinus and Peter - Opt Mem - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=77
Readings: Tuesday 9th Week of Ordinary Time - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/060226.cfm
1st: 2 Peter 3:12-15, 17-18 - Exhortation to Preparedness
Resp: Psalms 90:2, 3-4, 10, 14, 16 - God's Eternity and Human Frailty
Gsp: Mark 12:13-17 - Paying Taxes to the Emperor

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1084&r=1614

Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LARwbaLyMps