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Meditation: Psalm 34:2-9
Saints and Peter and Paul, Apostles
Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. (Psalm 34:4)
We may wonder why the Church celebrates these two great apostles in a single feast.
Both Peter and Paul were present at the Council of Jerusalem described in Acts 15, where Peter recounted how God had unmistakably opened the door for him to minister to Gentiles. His testimony helped the other apostles embrace a bigger and much broader vision for the Church than they had anticipated. It also cleared the way for all the missionary journeying that Paul would do. Even when the two of them were at odds, as happened in Antioch, they remained committed to the gospel message that had united them in the first place (Galatians 2:11-14).
Tradition holds that both apostles were condemned to death on the same day, even if they didn’t die in the same way. Because Paul was a Roman citizen, he was probably beheaded. Peter, however, was crucified upside down.
Despite their different personalities and roles, these two great apostles have been invoked together from the earliest days. Scrawled on the walls of the catacombs are many petitions like these: “Peter and Paul, remember Antonius.” “Paul and Peter, pray for Priscilla.” (Sometimes one name came first, sometimes the other.) In the Eastern tradition, icons dating to the earliest days portray the two men embracing each other, signifying the Church’s love for unity in the midst of diversity.
You may find that you relate to one better than the other according to your personality or where you are on your journey of faith, but don’t forget that Peter and Paul were more effective because they both were willing to encourage and correct each other. The Church today is far stronger because they learned how to work in harmony.
Each of us also serves God better when we are accountable to at least one other person, sharing our struggles and joining together in praise and petition. Think about who fills that role in your life right now. It might be a spouse or a chaplain, a friend or a co-worker. How blessed to be able to glorify the Lord together!
“St. Peter and St. Paul, help me open my heart to a true companion in Christ.”
Acts 12:1-11
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18
Matthew 16:13-19
“Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” (Albert Schweitzer) Is there a trait that you would like to foster in your spouse or child? How can you model that behavior this week in your own life?