Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
(Acts 12:1-11; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; Matthew 16:13-19)
You may have wondered: why are the two preeminent saints of
the early Church celebrated together? It seems that both Saints Peter and Paul
deserve a separate day to honor them. After all, Peter was Christ's first
vicar, and Paul was his greatest promoter. Indeed, different aspects of Peter
and Paul are celebrated separately. The See of Saint Peter is commemorated on
February 22. Likewise, January 25 is dedicated to the conversion of Saint Paul.
However, there are reasons to commemorate Peter and Paul
together. There is a tradition that they were martyred at the same time. More
importantly, they are both associated with the Church of Rome as its patron
saints. This church has the distinction of being first among all others in
constancy of faith. Furthermore, both have become larger-than-life figures,
symbols for Christians throughout the centuries.
Saint Peter symbolizes authority within the Church. Although
the Acts of the Apostles attests to his great preaching ability, he is
associated with the institutional Church. Today's Gospel shows him receiving
from Jesus "the keys of the Kingdom," which in themselves are symbols
of authority. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus promises Peter his support. He says:
"...I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail, and that you may
strengthen your brothers."
Saint Paul, although the preeminent evangelizer, can be even
more closely associated with the theology of the Church. In his letters to the
various local churches, he originated such key Christian concepts as
justification by faith in Christ and the universality and exclusivity of
salvation through Christ. It is little wonder that Paul has been called the
"second founder of Christianity." There is another characteristic of
the two patron saints of Rome that is perhaps more significant for us. They
both shared an inestimable love for Jesus Christ. Paul was so identified with
Christ that he wrote to the Galatians: “…it is no longer I who live, but Christ
who lives in me” (Gal 2:20). At Jesus' prompting, Peter declared three times,
each time more solemnly: “…I love you.” This is the same kind of love that
moved Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta to declare: “I was Albanian by birth. Now
I am a citizen of India. I am also a Catholic nun. In my work, I belong to the
whole world. But in my heart, I belong to Christ.”
We should foster this love within ourselves. It is not
difficult when we consider with faith that Christ not only gave his life to
justify us from sin; that he is not only the Son of God and our brother by
virtue of the Incarnation; but that he is also our daily companion, enabling us
to live in peace until we may attain the happiness of eternal life.