29/06/2025

St. Peter & St. Paul

“You are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church.”

Two points. 

1. It is MY – not your – Church. After His Resurrection, by the shore of lake Tiberias, Jesus told Peter to, “Feed my – not your- sheep.”

2. ‘Rock’ like ‘Little John’ in Sherwood Forest, was the antithesis of the reality. The weakness of his followers, would make it clear that it was God’s power acting through them that would bring Christ’s kingdom – like an oasis of love and peace surrounded by the swamp of Roman Empire cruelty – into life.

The Holy Spirit – clearly present at Pentecost, 50 days after The Resurrection – would work through humans to bring The Kingdom of God into daily, and eventually political, life.

Peter,  by accepting Cornelius and others into the faith, without requiring them to become Jewish first, played a crucial role in the inclusion of Gentiles into the church.

Thanks to Saul, on his way to Damascus becoming Paul, coaxing that Church to grow, would become a costly reality.

In his second letter to the Corinthians, (11:16-33), he described his sufferings, which included being "in danger from rivers, from bandits, from my fellow Jews, from Gentiles;  in the city,  in the country, at sea; and from false believers". He also mentions labouring, toiling, going without sleep, experiencing hunger and thirst, and facing cold and nakedness.

In his letter to the Galatians,( 2:1-10) and The Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15), resonating with Peter’s view, Paul explicitly clarifies that Gentiles do not need to become Jewish to become Christians. He argued that faith in Jesus Christ, not adherence to Jewish law and customs, is the basis for salvation and inclusion in the Christian community.

During Emperor Nero’s persecution Peter, who tradition says asked to be crucified head down as he did not deem himself worthy to die like Jesus, died.

Paul, a Roman citizen, could not be crucified. So, he died beheaded. A merciful end to a magnificent life.

Whenever I am tempted to think my life is not easy,  I think of Sts Peter and Paul and realise how cushy, in comparison, it really is. With every Sunday a joy. Thank God!