Saint Peter and Saint Paul

 

Dear Parishioners,

St. Peter the Apostle (a.k.a. Simon) was personally chosen by Christ to head what would become known as the Catholic Church. “ . . . You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church.” (Mt. 16:18) Peter was a weak, imperfect man. He denied Christ three times. He fled the crucifixion scene. Peter fell asleep when Christ asked him (and others) to pray with Him in the garden of Gethsemane. Christ strongly rebuked Peter when he tried to contradict Christ’s prediction of His future suffering and cross. “[Jesus] turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.’” (Mt. 16: 23) Nevertheless, Peter became the leader that Christ wanted for His Church.

St. Paul (a.k.a. Saul) initially persecuted the early Church:

“Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains.” (Acts 9: 1-2)

He had some culpability for the death of St. Stephen. “Now Saul was consenting to [Stephen’s] execution.” (Acts 8: 1) Yet, Christ had other plans for him. Eventually he become known as the Apostle to the Gentiles willing to go far and wide to proclaim Jesus is Lord. (See Phil. 2:11)

What lessons can we learn from Christ’s choice of these two men? First, Christ does not necessarily choose only the perfect, the holy, the best or the brightest. He chooses sinners, the weak, the lowly, and the seemingly insignificant. He chooses whomever He wills in spite of what others may think. After all, He is God.

Next, Christ has the power to transform even the worst possible situation into something holy and salvific. Peter and Paul were sinners who became saints. They did not initially act in accordance with what Christ intended for His Church. However, with the grace of God’s transformative love, they became holy. They learned to love Christ. They suffered and died for Him. They are officially recognized as saints. The Church’s history is filled with many such scenarios.

Additionally, we see how it is the power of Christ that works through these men and sometimes in spite of them. Peter could only walk on water when he kept his eyes focused on Christ. Otherwise he sank. (See Mt. 14: 22-33) Paul’s zeal for his religion was initially misdirected to destroy Christianity until Christ turned him around and allowed him to see clearly. He then became one of Christianity’s greatest proponents and missionaries.

Tradition has it that Peter was eventually crucified like Jesus. However, he requested to die upside down because he was not worthy to die in the manner his Lord had died. Paul, after a time of imprisonment, was beheaded. Peter is symbolized by keys illustrating his binding and loosing power as head of the Church. Paul is symbolized by the sword indicating the power Sacred Scripture has to pierce one’s being (See Heb. 4: 12) as well as the manner of his death.

As we honor these two great Church leaders on this solemnity, may we aspire to be transformed in like manner by Jesus into zealous disciples.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor