The Solemnity of Sts. Peter & Paul, Apostles.

Today is the 29th day of June, 2021. It is the last Tuesday of the sixth month of the year. In the Roman Catholic Church, today is a wonderful day…a time worth celebrating….a moment of praise…a call to witness to Jesus….a special event to ponder over. Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of Sts. Peter & Paul, Apostles.

1. These men were called by Jesus in an interesting fashion. Peter, a fisherman, left his fishing business to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:18-20). Paul, who was on his way to persecute Christians, was called & this marked the beginning of a new life (Acts 9:3-19).

Why did these men follow Jesus? What did they hear? What did they experience? These men could have said no to Jesus…they could have snubbed this invitation, but that was never the case. They left everything in order to follow Jesus.

The Christian life is a call to follow Jesus. There are always two things in the life of every person: to follow Jesus or the Devil. The choice is yours to make.

2. Why did God call Peter & Paul? What did God see in these men? Were they the best of men? Were they the most holiest on earth? What informed the choice of these men?

God could have called other people instead of these men. He saw something amazing in a fisherman (Peter)….something special in a persecutor (Paul). If the choice of these men were based on hearsay, they wouldn’t have been called. For God, it’s not about what others say about you or or how you see yourself. No! It is about about What He says of you. Sinful as you are, the Lord can use you in saving humanity.

3. These men did not just follow Jesus, they really worked hard for the advancement of God’s kingdom on earth. They proclaimed the Word…they made known Jesus to humanity…they evangelised.

Out of the 27 books of the New Testament, Paul is said to have written almost half the number of these books…he embarked on three missionary journeys which brought the faith to places such as Cyprus, Macedonia, Asia Minor & Achaia.

Peter wrote the letters of Peter (I & II Peter) & @ his preaching after the Pentecost experience (Acts 2:41), about 3000 converts were added to the faith.

The celebration of Sts. Peter & Paul is an invitation to make Jesus known. You need not be a Priest, seminarian, etc before you proclaim the Word. As a Catechist, Lector, Mass server, Usher, etc you are called to make Jesus known. You cannot proclaim the Word if it’s not in your heart.

4. In following Jesus, these men didn’t have it easy…they went through pain, torture, etc.

The first reading (Acts 12:1-11) presents Peter in prison. Four squads of soldiers guarded him…he slept between two soldiers…he was bound with chains….sentries were @ the door of the prison.

Like Peter, Paul also had his share of incarceration (Acts 16:16-40).

The persecution of Paul & Peter should remind us of the difficulties of the Christian life. In our bid to make Jesus known, we will not have it easy with the world. We may go through pain, torture, sorrowful moments, persecutions, etc. These challenges may come from our own friends or others.

5. The reaction of Paul & Peter to their persecution is amazing. In prison, they could have been angry with God…they could have spoken against God’s name…they could have asked questions upon questions…they could have abandoned the faith….they could have given up, etc. What did they do? They prayed & sang hymns to God. Did you hear that? I repeat: PRAISES & WORSHIP! This is how they responded to pain.

• What is your pain?

• Have you abandoned the faith?

• For how long have you been in difficulties?

• Have you stopped praying, going to Church, etc?

Today’s celebration is a reminder to imitate the action of Peter & Paul. It’s not the problem, but your attitude towards it. This is the message!

6. Miraculously, God delivered Paul & Peter from prison. They were set free….they were released by the hand of God….they were saved….they had their liberation. In fact, God didn’t need a key to unlock the chains or doors.

I don’t know what you’re going through….I don’t know your pain….I don’t know your frustrations….I don’t know your anxieties. My prayer for you is that, may God open every close doors in your life….may God unfasten every chain in your life….may the Lord deliver you from danger….may God set you free forever.

7. Liturgically, we use the RED colour today. Why not white, green or violet, but RED? The choice of RED is to inform us of the BLOOD shed by Peter & Paul for the advancement of the faith.

The passion of Peter took place in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero. He was confined in the Marmertine prison where the Church of San Pietro in Carcere now stands. Condemned to death by crucifixion, Peter asked that he be crucified head downwards because he felt himself unworthy to die as his master did.

Paul was arrested & imprisoned when persecution broke out against Christians during the reign of Emperor Nero. He was beheaded on the Ostian Way @ a place called “Aquae Salviae” which @ present is known as “Tre Fontane,” near where the Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls stands today.

8. Where were the minds of persecutors of Peter & Paul? What were they thinking? Would they had martyred Paul & Peter if they were their children, fathers, relations, etc? Would they have approved of this same act to be meted out to themselves? Certainly not! Then why this act to Paul & Peter?

This is the lesson: apply common sense in your dealings with people. What you don’t want done to you, the other person also doesn’t want it to be done to him or her…what you want done to you, the other person might want it done to him or her.

9. Was there any bystander as Paul & Peter were martyred? Did the person intervene? Was the person afraid? If nobody was there, it is a different scenario. In this context, it is highly probable that some people were there, yet they chose to be silent.

Life is all about helping someone & this text is a classic example. If there’s something meaningful you can do for a person, do it now….don’t wait till it’s too late. What is the essence of meaningless silence in the light of suffering? Let us stand for the rights of people.