Feast of Peter and Paul Apostles, June 29, 2025
Acts 12:1-11; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; Matthew 16:13-19
In the 1980s, Ryuichi Honda, a former Japanese yakuza gangster, led a life of crime, drugs, and revenge. He was ruthless, feared, and utterly lost. One night, in a gang battle, he was nearly killed. Haunted by what he had done, he was incarcerated. There, another prisoner gave him a Bible—not to save his soul, but merely to mock its "uselessness." In idle malice and boredom, Honda started to read it. But when he read the Gospels, he was taken aback by the character of Jesus—this man who forgave his enemies, who selected imperfect disciples, who gave His life for love. For the first time, Ryuichi cried.
He saw himself in Peter, who had abandoned his Lord but was
shown mercy. He saw himself in Paul, a fierce man who was transformed by a
encounter with Christ. Slowly, his heart was transformed. He repented, was
baptized, and when released, devoted his life to serving delinquent youth and
prisoners in Japan, sharing the Gospel that had changed him.
He also once said, "I was the worst of men, but Jesus
saw something in me. Like Paul, I was blind. And like Peter, I was
forgiven."
We honour today two great pillars of the Church—Saint Peter
and Saint Paul—whose lives were changed by their encounter with Jesus and whose
witness continues to shape the Church today.
These two people were very different:
Peter, the fisherman, impulsive and down-to-earth, whom
Jesus selected as the rock upon which the Church would be established.
Paul, a learned Pharisee, who had once persecuted the
Christians, afterwards Apostle to the Gentiles, zealous in service and deep in
doctrine.
But though they were from different backgrounds and
personalities, their lives intersect in martyrdom, religion, and unwavering
devotion to Christ.
"You are Peter, and upon this rock I will establish my
Church…"(Matthew 16:18)
Here, let us start with Peter. Jesus, in the Gospel, poses
the question to His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter,
with insight born of inspiration, responds: "You are the Christ, the Son
of the living God.".
Jesus finds the spark of God in Peter's response and makes
him the rock on which He will build His Church. But already a couple of verses
in, Peter tries to dissuade Jesus from going to the cross and gets sternly
rebuked: "Get behind me, Satan!"
What a paradox—lovely, indeed—rock and stumbling block, both
Peter. The message is clear: God uses people who are not perfect to do His
perfect will.
You and I can identify with Peter as feeling that we are not worthy. We can have failed, doubted, or denied Christ in our manner. But the Feast of Peter reminds us that failure is never final if we yield to grace. Jesus does not demand perfect servants. He desires faithful ones.
In the first reading, Peter is imprisoned by King Herod.
Bound and guarded, he appears completely hopeless. But during the stillness of
night, an angel shows up. Chains drop off, doors swing open, and Peter walks
out free.
What an effective symbol! Chains cannot bind the one for
whom God sets free. This is not merely a vision of bodily freedom; it
symbolizes the deeper spiritual reality that no prison—fear, guilt, sin, or
despair—can bind the soul that is fully surrendered to God. Peter was not freed
for himself. Peter was freed for mission—to preach, to shepherd, to strengthen
others. We too are freed—through Confession, through healing, through truth—not
for the sake of feeling better, but for the sake of becoming better and
serving.
Paul's words in the second reading are triumphant and
gentle. He is writing this letter to Phoebe from prison, with death staring him
in the face. His tone is not despairing, however. He has done all that he
could. His hope has not wavered. And he is confident of the Lord's reward.
His phrase "I am already being poured out like a
libation" is particularly moving. In the ancient world, a libation was a
drink offering poured out before the gods—a symbol of total abandonment. Paul
sees his life in the same way: not something to cling to, but something to pour
out in love.
What are we sacrificing our lives for? For success,
validation, security? Or like Paul, for something eternal?
Peter stands for the institutional Church—leadership, unity,
order. Paul stands for the missionary Church—going out, evangelizing,
conforming. We require both.
The Church is rooted and adventurous, solid and lively. In
times of polarization and disintegration, Peter and Paul teach us that unity is
not sameness. Our diversity of gifts, temperament, and callings can serve for
one end: to make Christ known and loved.
Peter and Paul were martyred in the city of Rome, distant
from the Galilean shores or the Damascus roads. Their blood sanctified a city
that had crucified Christ. Rome, the city of tyranny, became the heart of the
faith. Why? Because these men had the faith that nothing—prison, suffering,
death—could ever take away from the love of Christ.
We are called to live with the same valor today. We are not
locked behind prison bars, but we are frequently trapped by the world, by
apathy, or by fear. Like Peter, we are called to acknowledge Christ boldly.
Like Paul, we are called to run the race and finish strong.
The greatest sermon is a life of love and sacrifice. Let us
be Peter—faithful when we fall. Let us be Paul—courageous when we face
opposition.
On this holy feast, let us give thanks to God for the gifts
of Peter and Paul, the rock and the fire, the shepherd and the missionary.
Their courage, their passion, and their complete abandonment continue to
challenge and inspire the Church. Let us walk in their footsteps. Let us build
the Church on faith like Peter and set the world aflame with the passion of
Paul.
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