Saints Peter and Paul

 Acts 12:1-11. 2 Tim 4:6-8, 17-18. Mt 16:13-19.

Today we solemnize Saints Peter and Paul, the pillars of the Roman Catholic Church. Jesus chose Peter saying to him, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt 16:18), and he chose Paul setting him apart as “a chosen instrument to carry his name before the Gentiles and kings and children of Israel” (cf. Ac 9:15).

What do these saints have in common?

(a) Experience of the Risen Christ

Peter denies Jesus. Paul persecutes Jesus’ body which is the Church. Both experience the Risen Christ. Their lives are transformed totally afterward. Paul later writes, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection” (Phil 3:10).

(b) Complementarity

Peter and Paul are contrasted. They hailed from different professional backgrounds, families, social status, educational qualifications, and had different characteristic elements. At times they rubbed shoulders with each other in mission (cf. Gal 2:11-14). However, they join hands in holding the gospel of Christ. They complement each other at this point.

(c) Writings

They live amidst us through what they have written. They addressed their writings to their own communities of believers, exhorting them, encouraging them, and guiding them. The writings have reached us, who are distant from them in space and time. 

Ecclesiastes tells, ‘It is not the beginning, but the end that matters’ (cf. 7:8). Both, Peter and Paul, had humble beginnings. But, they had glorious endings. At the end of his life, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.’ Paul said, ‘It is I that live, but Christ that lives in me.’

The life lessons we draw from them are the following:

(a) They accepted their past.

Peter denied Jesus. Paul persecuted Jesus. These were their past. However, they did not yield to guilt, or self-pity. They accepted their past and transcended from it 

(b) They changed their life-path

As soon as they had God-experience they changed their paths. They did not return to their old selves or lives. They had unfailing courage and endurance.

(c) They bore witness to faith in Jesus

Till the end, their life was a living witness to Jesus. They sacrificed their lives for confessing Jesus as the Son of God.

Saints Peter and Paul become strong pillars. It is not what we are that matters, but it is what we become that matters.

Our becoming is possible when the divine hand touches us.