Saints Peter and Paul

In celebrating these ordinary men, who are called to proclaim the Gospel in spirit and in truth, we also celebrate the extra-ordinary ministry we share in, by being called by Jesus Christ.  When we celebrate the sacraments, and come together for the Eucharist, we are asked to respond in faith.  Whether we are directed to go and 'sin no more,' or to 'go and proclaim the Gospel,' our faith is to be our foundation and our guide.  Both Peter and Paul are shown as initially misguided by their own wants and needs, and later as servants of the Gospel, become the greatest of the apostles; rooted in the Paschal Mystery.

So before either Peter or Paul can answer the question, "Who do people say that I am?" they, like us, have to first discover who they are.  We begin our own journey of faith by recognizing our own emptiness and weakness before God.  As Peter is called to discipleship he is able to proclaim, "Leave me Lord for I am a sinful man."  And Paul writes that he is, "Least among the apostles."  In making this kind of profession of faith they realize the lack of grace on their own and the need they have for the divine in the ordinary and extra-ordinary affairs of living.

Again and again, in the preaching of Peter and Paul, our identity in Christ is shown in our inescapable need for Jesus to be our Messiah.  We cannot fully appreciate the grace and gifted-ness we have from God unless we first recognize and develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.  By connecting ourselves to Christ Jesus we soon discover a wisdom and insight that leads us to truth, but then is able to convey that same truth to others.  But again it means we have to be rooted to the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Recently, and especially this week, we have seen so many examples where men and women have refused to live as children of light, preferring the darkness over the light.  Peter and Paul will discover that the word of God, the message of the Gospel, is often met with hostility and dejection.  As bearers of Good News we are sometimes dejected along with the Gospel.  This is why we have to rely on Christ in our mission and ministry.  His grace and love allows us to remain firm in the truth and unmovable in our faith.  St. Paul asks the question, if God is for us who can be against us.

As a Church, and the faithful that are part of the Body of Christ, we have to unite ourselves to this 'Rock' foundation of the Church.  As we live in communion with Christ, and all holy men and women, we will never be assailed by the Sins and weaknesses that seek to undo us.  "The powers of death shall not prevail" against the Church and it's mission.  Like Peter and Paul, we seek to throw ourselves upon the love and mercy of Christ as we help to establish a place of light, happiness, and peace.