The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, both apostles and martyrs, reminds us that God calls imperfect people to extraordinary vocations.
Born in Bethsaida, near the Sea of Galilee, Simon was a fisherman, who, along with his brother Andrew, left behind his ordinary life to follow Jesus. Simon was the first to recognize and confess that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah (Mark 8:29), and, while that confession is among the highlights in his life, Simon Peter did not fully grasp Jesus’ teachings. Simon Peter was among those who witnessed the Transfiguration, the raising of a dead child to life, and the agony in Gethsemane, and he was the apostle to whom Jesus Christ said: “… upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19).
The most pharisaic of Pharisees, the most legalistic of Mosaic lawyers, Saul was born as a Roman citizen in Tarsus, modern-day Turkey. Among the fiercest persecutors of the early Church, he was partly responsible for the death of the proto-martyr Saint Stephen (Acts 7:58). While traveling to Damascus to persecute more Christians, he was knocked to the ground and heard Jesus say, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me” (Acts 9:4). This was the beginning of his conversion, and Saul became Paul, the most fervent evangelizer and apostle to the gentiles (Romans 11:13), and the first theologian of the Church, made evident by his numerous letters that expound on the Gospels.
Saints Peter and Paul, pray for us!
