TWO PILLARS, ONE MISSION

Reflections on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles: Acts 12:1-11, 2 Timothy 4:6-8,17-18, Matthew 16:13-19

Peter and Paul cannot be separated. They are the two pillars of the Church, and Tradition has never celebrated one without the other. Explaining the rationale behind celebrating these two saints on the same day, Augustine preached, “There is one day for the passion of two apostles. But these two also were as one; although they suffered on different days, they were as one. Peter went first, Paul followed”. What do these two towering figures of our faith teach us about our discipleship?

1. Different Roads, One Call: 

Their itineraries are strikingly different. Peter was a Galilean fisherman of simple means and strong character, easily recognised by his accent, a self-acclaimed sinner living in Capernaum on the shores of Lake Tiberias. Paul was a Jew from the diaspora (from Tarsus in Asia Minor), a well-learned Pharisee, zealous for the Jewish law and traditions, and a Roman citizen. Both had their lives turned upside down when Jesus burst in and said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19), and “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4). Simon, now Peter, leaves his nets and his wife to follow the rabbi. Saul, now Paul, makes himself available to the apostles.

Though different in background, temperament, and calling, both Peter and Paul became the pillars of the Church (Galatians 2:9). Peter became the apostle to the Jews, and Paul the apostle to the Gentiles. Their contrasting backgrounds (an uneducated fisherman and a learned persecutor) reveal God’s inclusivity. God calls all to serve: the impulsive and the rigid, the simple and the sophisticated, the outsider and the enemy. Peter and Paul remind us that discipleship begins not with perfection, but with a “yes” to Christ’s invitation. These two pillars remind us that God calls the unexpected and the unexpecting. He intervenes where we are and shapes a new future for us. Our discipleship is a unique call extended to each of us in our concrete life realities to the common mission of building up God’s kingdom.

2. Human Weakness meets Divine Grace: 

The life and ministry of Peter and Paul testify that God does not call the equipped, but he equips the called. His Grace builds on weakness, not perfection. Neither Peter nor Paul was immune to failure. Peter, despite his close relationship with Jesus, and his bold confession of faith (Gospel), denied Jesus when it mattered the most (Luke 22:62). Paul, once a persecutor who “ravaged the Church”, approved of the stoning of Stephen and sought to arrest and imprison Christians (Acts 8:1-3), carried the guilt of his past, calling himself “the least of the apostles” (1 Corinthians 15:9). Even after conversion, Paul endured a “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7), perhaps a physical or spiritual trial. Yet God’s grace turned their weaknesses into strength.

Peter, restored by Christ’s forgiveness (John 21:15-17), became the first Pope, preaching boldly at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-41) and not fearing prison or death (first reading). Paul, transformed by the Holy Spirit, embarked on missionary journeys with the same zeal, declaring, “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith” (second reading). Peter and Paul remind us that God's grace always surpasses our failures and is ever within reach. He transforms our weaknesses, mistakes, and trials into powerful testimonies of His grace, walking with us in our frailty. Jesus Christ founded the Church; He is both its cornerstone and foundation, the very source of its life and animating Spirit. While the Church is perpetually reforming (ecclesia semper reformanda) as her members are called to continual conversion, it is not human effort but the power of divine grace that truly renews her. The Church is not a business or institution needing managerial updates to adapt to trends. The Holy Spirit is the protagonist; Jesus is the life-giving source. Yes, we are flawed and called to repentance, but our failings do not tarnish the Church. The Church of Christ includes both saints and sinners, the healthy and the sick.

3. The Gift of Kerygma:

Peter and Paul, in their ministries, handed the Church the gift of Kerygma, the fundamentals of our faith that have been handed over to us through traditions. They preached the word (Acts 2:14-40; 17:16-31), emphasised Christ’s return (1 Peter 1:17; 2 Peter 3:10-14; 1 Thess. 4:13-18), and advised believers on marital and civic duties (1 Peter 3:1-12; Eph. 5:22-33). They received heavenly visions guiding their missions (Acts 10:1-22; 16:6-10), authored New Testament epistles, and contributed key teachings on Scripture’s inspiration (2 Peter 1:19-21; 2 Tim. 3:15-17). Each anticipated martyrdom (2 Peter 1:14; 2 Tim. 4:6), encountered the risen Christ (1 Cor. 15:5, 8), and sealed their faith with martyrdom in Rome under Nero’s persecution (c. 64-67 AD). Peter was crucified upside down at his request, and Paul was beheaded.

How easily we forget that faith is a pure gift—a treasure passed to us through the courageous witness of Peter, Paul, and the other apostles. This living faith flows from generation to generation from elders, parents, and fellow believers who walked before us. Having received such grace, do we actively share it? Does our proclamation of Christ’s love truly enrich others' lives? Does our witness of the kerygma give hope to the lives of our brothers and sisters? Together, these two pillars of the Church continue to nourish our discipleship through the gift of the faith that they have handed over. The solemnity of Peter and Paul teaches us that discipleship is a journey of trust. God calls us despite our flaws, strengthens us through trials, and invites us to offer our lives in service.