Thursday, June 29, 2023

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, apostles

(Acts 12:1-11; II Timothy 4:6-8.17-18; Matthew 16:13-19)

It may be to contrast St. Peter and St. Paul than to compare them.  Peter is Jesus’ first apostle; Paul in a sense is his last.  Peter worked largely among the Jews; Paul preached mostly to the gentiles.  Peter knew Jesus in the flesh while Paul knew him through the Spirit.

Nevertheless, what the two share outweighs their differences.  Each had an enormous love for the Lord.  Peter professed his love three times in an appearance after the resurrection.  Paul was more eloquent saying that he counted all his possessions as rubbish in comparison with knowing Christ.  Most importantly, both Peter and Paul gave their lives testifying to Jesus’ Lordship.

Today we celebrate both Peter and Paul together as patrons of the Church at Rome.  Both were martyred in the eternal city in the seventh decade of the first century.  Both left the Church great legacies there.  Peter’s leadership brought the Church out of Jerusalem to faraway places in the Roman Empire.  Paul wrote the Church’s founding theological tract in his Letter to the Romans.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

(Acts 12:1-11; II Timothy 4:6-8.17-18; Matthew 16:13-19)

We prefer to think of the Church as a community of believers and a sign of God’s presence in the world than as an institution. But because it has laws, customs, and lands, the Church has been able to thrive through the centuries. The institution, of course, is headquartered in Rome where Saints Peter and Paul came to facilitate the evangelization of the world.

Rome, especially in the first century, is unlike any other city. Romans are practical people and ancient Romans were consummate lawyers and engineers as well. Their aptitude for organization, which they lent to the Church, and their excellent roads enabled Christianity to flourish. Part of the genius of both Peter and Paul was to take advantage of all the benefits that the “Eternal City” offered.

Today, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, the people of Rome have a holiday while Catholics around the world have opportunity to contemplate the authority of the pope, the bishop of Rome. Like Peter he is the symbol of unity of the Church. Like Paul he has the commission to assure the spread of the gospel, especially to pagan nations. With men of great holiness and wisdom serving as popes over the past century, we also have added reason to celebrate today with Romans.

Homilette for Monday, June 29, 2009

The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

(Acts 12:1-11; II Timothy 4:6-8.17-18)

One of the most interesting tours available in Rome is a visit to the scavi (that is Italian for diggings) behind St. Peter’s Basilica. Partakers descend not only below the earth but through time learning on the way both Church and Roman history. The climax of the journey is a little vault directly beneath the altar of the basilica where the bones of the chief apostle are believed kept. No one can verify that the remains actually belonged to St. Peter, but an argument can be made for it.

We can be sure that Peter stayed in Rome, but what he did there is uncertain. If he was commissioned to preach the gospel to all nations, would he have spent his time overseeing the affairs of the local church? More likely he used Rome as an itinerant preacher today prefers to live in proximity of an airport facilitating travel in any direction. Paul, we might remember, told the Romans in his letter that his stop there would be a stepping stone to Spain. In time, however, the bishops who assumed direction of the Church of Rome also took on the task of managing apostolic endeavors the world over.

We should not forget just how good the news of the gospel is. Added to the promise of eternal life, hearers of the gospel are invited into a community of equality, freedom of spirit, and genuine care for their well-being. Today we celebrate the two most illustrious preachers of the gospel. Both paid for the privilege with martyrdom. It is an occasion for all Christians to give thanks to God.