Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles

Today's Mass Readings

Could it be true that opposites attract, even in the spiritual life? This may be an interesting question as we examine the personal stories of Sts. Peter and Paul. The Church celebrates this solemnity today highlighting some of their most important teaching which reveal their particular approach to apostolic commitment.

The second reading presents Paul of Tarsus who was once a Pharisee. He was transformed by a mystical experience of the Risen Lord and eventually became the Apostle to the Gentiles. Here he is giving what amounts to his final testimony of faith. The race of a lifetime, as Paul calls it, is reaching a conclusion. His life included exhausting intellectual, spiritual, and physical struggles for the sake of bringing the Good News of the New Covenant to the world. Paul is proclaiming that any and all of his success is due to the Risen Lord rescuing and sustaining him on the journey.

Peter, the bombastic fisherman and eventually head of the Church followed Jesus with a struggling but growing faith. It led to a defining moment of insight. Peter’s answer to the question “who do you say I am?” was the core of an emerging faith. It would continue to develop not only for him but also for each one of us to this very day.

In fact, the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul is not just a celebration of the past heroic faith shown by these two very different apostles. It is the challenging grace for our personal and communal struggle to define, develop, and re-apply the teaching of Jesus to our wounded and needy world of today.

Reflection by Fr. Daniel Petsche, OSB