Solemnity of SS. Peter and Paul / Msgr. Owen F. Campion
The Sunday Readings
This weekend, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of SS. Peter and Paul. Jesus commissioned St. Peter to be first among the Apostles and the first leader of the Church. He was a fisherman, probably unable to read or write, as was the case with most people at the time. At some time, he was married, as the Gospel mention his “mother-in-law,” but no mention ever is made of his wife (Mt 8:14-15; Mk 1:29-31; Lk 4:38-39).
He left Palestine, went to Antioch and finally to Rome, where he led the Church in the great city.
According to an ancient tradition, he was martyred there by being crucified. But he was crucified upside down at his request because he felt unworthy to die in the way Christ died.
His successors, as bishops of Rome, have headed the Church through the centuries.
St. Paul, by contrast, was born into wealth. He was highly educated for his time. A convert to Christianity, he became a great missionary. He, too, finally died in Rome as a martyr.
The Acts of the Apostles furnish the first reading. Beginning with the trial and execution of the Lord, Christianity was at odds with civil authorities from the beginning.
In this reading, Peter is in prison, sent there by King Herod, the Roman puppet who figured in the story of Christ’s crucifixion. Lying in prison, Peter suddenly was released by an angel sent by God.
God preserved him from whatever might have been his plight, to secure the spread of the Gospel and the good order of the Church.
The second reading is from St. Paul’s Second Epistle to Timothy, in which Paul wrote to Timothy, a disciple of his and the first bishop of Ephesus in modern Turkey. Paul speaks of the obstacles that confronted him as he proclaimed the greatness of the Lord.
As was the first reading, it is a declaration of God’s protection of those who served the Lord faithfully.
The Gospel reading, from St. Matthew’s Gospel, is a clear and compelling testament to the faith of Peter.
In the reading, Jesus asked his disciples who they thought he was. Peter replied that he was “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). The Lord tells Peter that his faith is a gift from almighty God, and that Peter will be the foundation upon which the Church will be built.
Reflection
The readings on this feast, which is historically so important to the Church, proclaim the special identity of Peter.
The proclamation should be seen in context. The gift of faith, possessed by every believer, is no coincidence. It is an act of God’s love and mercy, given to anyone who accepts Jesus as the “Son of the living God,” as St. Peter said in describing his belief in Christ (Mt 16:16).
God’s love and mercy are supportive and strengthening. True believers still are being rescued from whatever attempts them to forget Christ, from doubts and temptations, vexing them, just as Peter had his problems with Herod.
All Christians struggle. Whatever the problem, God sustains and protects those who love the Lord.
Such also was the case with St. Paul. In the second reading in this liturgy, Paul refers to the difficulties that he experienced as a missionary.
In other epistles, he enumerates some of these hardships. People walked away from his preaching, unable to understand or unwilling to commit to Jesus. Again and again, Paul faced the hostility of civil authorities. He was imprisoned and, in the end, he was martyred.
Even so, as in this letter to Timothy, Paul testifies that the Lord rescued him from every threat.
God, in Christ, gave us the Church literally to save us from eternal doom. He gave us Peter to assist in that process. God still protects us. He loves us.
The Criterion will not have an issue next week due to its summer schedule. The reflection of Msgr. Owen Campion for Sunday, July 6, will be posted at
www.archindy.org/campion.†