29th JUNE (MONDAY). SAINTS PETER AND PAUL,13th Week.

1.Acts2:1-11

2.2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18

3.Matthew 16:13-19

REFLECTIONS AND MEDITATIONS

Today we celebrate the feast of our ancestors of faith Peter and Paul. The two saints whose lives we celebrate today speak to us of God’s power to transform and redirect our lives. As we are all aware, the lives of Peter and Paul were completely changed because of following Christ. The various circumstances of their lives in fact surprise each one of us as we celebrate their memories. What Paul says in the second reading, Peter might have also said, “ I have turn the race; I have kept the race; I have kept the faith.” Paul in this context does not speak about doctrinal observance, rather he fulfilled what faith required of him- witnessing and preaching the Christ crucified to believers and non-believers. Paul in the first reading is telling us about the cost of discipleship as he was imprisoned and finally executed in Rome during Nero’s suppression of the Church in the mid-60’s of the first century.

Jesus certainly intended that Peter be the Leader of his followers after he himself left this world. He also intended, one must assume, that others would carry on this leadership after Peter. This does not mean that Jesus approved all the developments in the Papacy since then or that the Roman curia as now constituted has the stamp of divine approval. According to church history, various popes of questionable character since 1700. Some have proved to be poor administrators, or lacked the capacity to inspire others. The image that most of us have in mind about the environment surrounding the papacy often seems inappropriate for the successors of Peter the fisherman. Jesus’ promise to Peter did not guarantee that his successors would all be saints or be able leaders or that would avoid mistakes. Catholic through their leaders should be able to make a distinction about what is of faith and what is not. As Catholics we should always be reminded of the dictum “Ecclesia semper reformed”(The is always in a constant reform). It is our conviction and we believe that we do not worship the pope, but we deeply respect him as Peter’s successor, a focus of unity and chief pastor of the Church.

There is a traditional story about Peter’s death in Rome during the persecution of Nero. When he heard about Nero’s plan to burn the city and blame the Christians Peter knew that as the Church leader in the city he would be arrested and put to death. So, urged by his friends he did the sensible thing and got ready to leave town at night along the Appian way. As the night wore on the sky was illuminated by the flames rising from the city. Then Peter saw someone coming in the opposite direction, heading back towards the city, someone who even at night seemed familiar. “Where are you going, Lord?” ( Quo vadis, Domine?”), asked the bewildered Peter. “ To Rome,” was the reply, “ to be crucified again, in your place.” Peter turned around and returned to Rome.

Less is spoken about the idea of succession to Saint Paul. However, in the church of God Paul is well known as the person who played a vital role as the principal animator of faith more especially by preaching the Christ crucified and the risen Jesus.  Celebrating these two leading apostles in a single feast is the remainder to each one of us that the church need both Petrine, Papal, canonical leadership and the more Charismatic, personal and inspirational leadership provided by characters like Paul, ever ready to question old ways and seek newer forms of bringing Christ into people’s lives. Let us with great joy honour the two pillars of the church in Rome. By recalling the words of  saint Clement, Peter’s fourth successor as the head of the community he wrote: “ Let us set before our eyes the illustrious apostles: Peter who endured numerous labours and when he had at length suffered martyrdom, departed to the place of glory due to him; and Paul who...having taught righteousness to the whole world, and come to the extreme limit of the west, suffered martyrdom under the prefects.....and went into the holy place, having proved himself a striking example of patience.” (Epistle to the Corinthians, par.5). The best way to honour their memory is to treasure the faith that they taught, and pass it on as the best we can to others.

From the gospel reading, we learn that what singled Peter out from the other disciples was his God-given insight into the identity of Jesus. It was because of his unique insight (understanding) that Jesus gives Peter a unique role among his followers. He is to be the rock, the firm foundation (strong faith in Jesus) on which Jesus will build his church. Peter’s role furthermore is spelt by Jesus that is to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven. The image of the keys suggests the authority. The nature of the authority is expressed in terms of binding and loosing. This probably is a reference to the teaching authority. Peter is being entrusted the teaching authority of Jesus for the other members of the Church. Yet it is the same Peter who would deny Jesus during his passion and crucifixition. According to Matthew’ gospel, Jesus seems to entrust an authority to someone who remains very coward. We learn the lesson that those being called to be leaders they are never perfect. Jesus would have opted to entrust this big task to the disciple whom he loved much, but yet he entrusted this task to the person who seemed fragile, nobody knows the mind of God.

From the second reading we are learn that Paul was the great preacher of the gospel to the Pagans throughout the Roman Empire. He preached it for the last time further west, in the city of Rome, where, like Peter, he was martyred for his faith in Christ. The extract we have just read from the second reading may has been written from his Roman imprisonment. , “ I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to finish; I have kept the faith.” The image of the fight and the race suggests that “keeping the faith” was a struggle for Paul; it did not come easy to him just as did not come easy to Peter either. Keeping faith is not an easy task to us also. Paul in his letter to timothy tells us the lesson that to keep faith was not his own personal initiatives, rather, it was the Lord who empowered him and the one who empowers each one of us to keep the faith. Lord’s faithfulness to us enables us to be faithful to him; his faithful love encourages us to keep returning to him even after failure. The faithful witness of Peter and Paul speak to us ultimately of the Lord’s faithfulness to us all.