The straight-forward account of Paul's arrival in Rome is fleshed out by fragments from his letters to include hardships by land and sea. Paul himself tells how difficult it was for him to bear witness. In all his trials he was supported by the Holy Spirit and his personal understanding that he was doing work for God. He was an instrument that was part of and building up what is now called Christ's mystical body even to the extent of bearing the marks of Jesus' suffering in his own body. We are all to do the same. It is our flesh that will be raised from the dead when Jesus completes his work of Love for the creation of his Father with the sending of the Holy Spirit. That completion is what is called Heaven.

Dear Lord help me to keep myself free from sin this day. Let not my joy in the things of  things of this obscure my concentration on following you.

Peter got to the tomb first. He had to do something right after his failures both before and after the Crucifixion . "Get thee behind me Satan" .That time must have been a time of unbearable grief and self-condemnation for all of the Apostles. Somebody should have been watching Judas! Why didn't Peter keep on fighting. Where did you get to, Thomas/? Only John stayed with Mary and the other women to receive the corpse. The body was buried but today the resurrection confuses before it overjoys. They run Peter gets there first but it is John's account that we read today. Nobody can say that Jesus chose the sinless to lead his Church. He also said that he would support it the end of time.

Dear Lord fill all our souls with a fervent belief and love. Let our priests be truly holy so that the sacraments they administer will be filled with your real presence within our midst.