“And so I say to you, you are Peter, and 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 16:17–19
Saints Peter and Paul are often referred to as two of the
great “Pillars of the Church.” They each played an incredibly essential role in
the establishment of the early Church. And though each of their roles was
essential and foundational, their roles were as different as they were
different as persons.
Peter was a family man, a local fisherman, uneducated and
quite ordinary. From what we know about him prior to being called by Jesus,
there was nothing that made him uniquely qualified to become one of the pillars
of the new Church to be established by the Son of God. Jesus simply called him,
and he responded. Jesus got into Peter’s boat, ordered him to lower the nets,
and produced a huge catch of fish. When Peter saw this miracle, he fell down at
Jesus’ feet and acknowledged that he was “a sinful man” who was unworthy of
being in Jesus’ presence (See Luke 5:8). But Jesus
informed Peter that he would from now on be catching men. Peter immediately
left everything behind and followed Jesus.
Paul describes himself as “a Jew, born at Tarsus in
Cili′cia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gama′li-el, educated
according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God
as you all are this day” (Acts
22:3). Paul was well educated in the strictest interpretation of the Jewish
law, understood philosophy and was quite zealous as a young man. Recall, also,
that prior to becoming a convert to Christianity, he “persecuted the church of
God violently and tried to destroy it” (Galatians 1:13). In many
ways, Paul would have been seen as the most unlikely person to be chosen to be
a pillar of the Church, because he so vigorously opposed it at first. He even
supported the killing of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
Though each of these men would have been considered by
many as very unlikely founders of the Christian Church, this is exactly what
they became. Paul, after his conversion, traveled far and wide to preach the
Gospel, founding several new Churches throughout Asia Minor and Europe.
Eventually he was arrested in Jerusalem, brought to Rome for trial and was
beheaded. Over half of the New Testament books are attributed to Paul and half
of the Acts of the Apostles detail Paul’s missionary journeys. Paul is especially
known for his missionary activity to the Gentiles, those who were not Jews.
Peter’s role was truly a unique one. His name was changed
from “Simon” to “Peter” by Jesus. Recall Jesus saying, “And I tell you, you are
Peter (Petros), and on this rock (petra) I will build my church…(Matthew 16:18). “Peter”
in Greek is Petros. However, the Greek word petra means
a rock as a solid formation that is fixed, immovable, and enduring. Therefore,
Jesus chose to make Peter a solid foundation of immovable rock on which the
Church was to be built.
You, too, have been called by our Lord to a unique
mission within the Church that has not been entrusted to another. In your own
way, God wants to use you to reach certain people with the Gospel as He did
with Saint Paul. And like Saint Peter, God wants to continue to establish His
Church upon you and your faith.
Reflect, today, upon these two holy and unique pillars of
our Church. As you do, ponder how God may want to use you to continue their
mission in this world. Though Saints Peter and Paul are among the greatest and
most consequential Christians within our world, their mission must continue,
and you are among the instruments that God wants to use. Commit yourself to
this mission so that the preaching of the Gospel and the rock foundation of our
Church will remain strong within our day and age just as it was of old.
Saint Peter, you were uniquely chosen to be a rock foundation of faith upon which the Church was established. Saint Paul, you went forth to preach this faith far and wide, establishing many new communities of faith. Please use me, dear Lord, to continue the mission of Your Church so that the faith may be firmly planted in the minds and hearts of all Your people throughout the world. Jesus, I trust in You.
No comments:
Post a Comment