Acts 12 : 1-11 / 2 Timothy 4 : 6-8, 17-18 / Matthew 16 : 13-19 (2017 / 2023)
St. Peter and St. Paul are two great apostles who strengthened the faith of the early Church and kept it in unity.
But these two saints were as different as night and day and they even had their differences recorded in Galatians 2: 14.
Although it was St. Peter who affirmed the identity of Christ, his character and actions did not quite reflect the meaning of his name, which means "rock".
Peter was rash and impulsive and we can certainly remember his triple denial of Jesus.
St. Paul was a brutal opponent of Christians before his conversion and he had a fiery character.
But it was strange that Jesus chose these two men who were far from perfect or even suitable to be the leaders of His Church.
Yet, that showed who was the spiritual and guiding force behind the Church.
But in spite of their differences and shortcomings, Sts. Peter and Paul were united in a common goal and mission.
Both died as martyrs, an act which showed that the purpose of their lives were not for their own glory but for the glory of God.
This feast of Sts. Peter and Paul shows us that despite the differences and failures in personalities and characters, the Church can be united for a common goal and mission.
The lives of Sts. Peter and Paul show us that God can choose the weak and imperfect persons to be the leaders of His Church.
Because it is through these imperfect human instruments that God shows the Church and the world that what is impossible for man is not impossible for God.