PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES OF JESUS CHRIST

FEAST OF ST. PETER AND PAUL - 2 Timothy 4:6-8,17-18; Mt 16:13-19

Peter was one of the first disciples to be called and then chosen to be part of the restricted number of the Apostles, in which he rose to prominence, being outspoken and forceful in his approach to Jesus. He was Simon, a married fisherman from Capernaum, to whom Jesus changed the name into Peter, or Rock. When Jesus spoke about his impending death, he was ready to contradict him, affirming that such could not be the destiny of the Messiah, and he was ready to boast about his faithfulness, when Jesus warned him about his betrayal. This Simon, the Rock, proved to be a coward, ready to hide and protect himself, instead of being truthful and faithful.

St. Peter, the patron of my home parish, Tarouca.

As outspoken, he became the spokesman of the whole group, expressing aloud what all the others were thinking in their hearts. And he proclaimed the faith that constitutes the rock upon which the Church is founded: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). We cannot belong to the Church without professing this faith that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Son of the living God. For this profession of faith, Simon, the Rock, stands out as a pillar of the Church, and Jesus put him in charge of the Church.

Peter sinned, and his sin was great, but he recognised his weakness in tears and accepted Jesus’ love and compassion. Having sinned, he became aware that in him  there was nothing to boast about, and that only Jesus Christ could transform him into a new person.

Paul’s journey was even harder and bumpy than that of Peter. In fact, nobody can walk in straight line to God, but in spite of our crooked lines, God is able to guide us to safe port.

Although a Jew, Paul was born in the diaspora as a Roman citizen. Brought up as a pharisee, in spite of the Greek culture that surrounded him, he was a fundamentalist, observing the Law in all its rigour. That fundamentalism led him to persecute the Christians, intent on uprooting them. But then Jesus found him out, and his life was changed for ever.  He put his life totally at the service of Jesus Christ and opened the doors of the Church to people of all nations, becoming the Apostle of the Gentiles.

At the end of his life, he could say: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tm 4:7).

May we keep the faith that Peter proclaimed and may we centre our lives on Jesus Christ as Paul did, and then like them we will receive the crown of glory.