Solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul

Scripture for Mass

Acts 12;1-11

Psalm 34(33): 2-3. 4-5. 6-7. 8-9. Response: 5

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18

Matthew 16:13-19

That the Church has chosen not to give Saint Peter and Saint Paul separate feast days, but rather to honour these pillars of the early Church together, seems to imply that there is something of great value to be discovered for our present-day faith life through our participation in this joint celebration.

Peter and Paul were different in many ways. While both were Jews, Paul was also a strict Pharisee. Moreover, he was a scholar and a linguist. Peter, on the other hand, was a fisherman who was probably illiterate. Both were passionate – Peter in an impulsive verbal manner, Paul in a sophisticated literary style. Moreover, while Peter had accompanied Jesus throughout his public ministry, Paul had come to know the Christ only after his resurrection. Besides, Peter’s outreach was focussed on his own people, Jews, which contrasted with Paul’s mission to people of other faiths and beliefs.

However, despite such seemingly significant differences, both Paul and Peter were adamant that their respective missionary endeavours were directed by the same Holy Spirit. They recognised that their primary allegiance was to God and the proclamation of his reign. Therefore, they insisted that those who welcomed the gospel become not members of Paul’s Supporters Association or Peter’s Fan Club but rather missionary disciples of the risen Christ.

Today’s joint celebration of these two giants of the early Church is an antidote, then, to the highly contagious virus of factionalism, nationalism and polarisation that debilitates the Church and society due to our refusal to rejoice in the diversity of God’s gifts.