Today’s solemnity celebrates two men who shaped the Early Church and the development of Christianity. Peter and Paul were entrusted with the mission of the Church in the different corners of the world. The preface for today’s mass highlights their different styles and callings: Peter as foremost in confessing the faith, Paul as an outstanding preacher, Peter as establishing the Early Church from the remnant of Israel, but Paul bringing the Gentiles into Christ’s flock. Yet, “each in a different way gathered together the one family of Christ, (they are) revered together throughout the world, (sharing) one Martyr’s crown.”
The readings today highlight the courage and testimony of these two men: of Peter being arrested and brought to trial by King Herod, of Peter witnessing to Christ his belief in him as the Savior, and of Paul looking back at his life, confident that of his following his call to preach Christ’s Gospel to the world.
We can see Peter as representing the part of the Church that gives it stability, with its traditions handed down from that first group of Jewish disciples who helped Jesus in his ministry. Peter as the first Pope helped establish the structures that would preserve these traditions, bringing the Church consistency and solidarity. Today, Peter is represented by the Pope in our modern Church. Peter made sure that the Early Church survived and did not disintegrate.
Paul represents the prophetic and missionary role of the Church, the part that pushes our boundaries further out, that addresses social and justice concerns, that creatively communicates the Church’s message. The spirit of Paul renews the Church and brings the Church to different times in history and different cultures. The spirit that Paul brings to the Church interprets the signs of the times and dialogues with the world. The spirit of Paul utilizes new technology and responds to the new ideas that surface in the world. In the spirit of Paul, the Church remains relevant to the world today and continues to evangelize in the reality of the world.
As we celebrate this feast today, let us hear the call to remain faithful to the traditions which have been passed down to us over the many centuries of the history of the Church. At the same time, let us be ready to make the necessary changes and adaptations to effectively communicate the message of Christ to all those who are hungering and searching for the truth.
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