Word to the Wise
Friday, June 29, 2018 - June 29: SS. Peter and Paul, Apostles: Day
[Acts 12:1-11; 2 Tim 4:6-8, 17-18; Matt 16:13-19]FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2018. STS. PETER AND PAUL [Acts 12:1-11; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; Matthew 16:13-19] “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church....”. [Matthew] Peter and Paul are the two major figures in the beginning of the Church once Jesus was risen. Aside from their individual and colorful personalities, they have come to symbolize two important dimensions of the Church. Peter represents the leadership and unity dimension, which would include, but is not limited to, the institutional and organizational manifestation of the Church. Paul represents the missionary and “charismatic” dimension, which would include the important preaching and energetic evangelization dimension. Tradition holds that both men were martyred in Rome. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians tells us that he was not afraid to confront Peter over the issue of Gentile converts and Jewish observance. [Galatians 2:11]. Those who are sensitive to the questions of power in the Church will point to the tension between the centralizing tendency represented by the papacy [Peter] and more local and cultural interests represented by Paul. The relationship between national conferences of bishops and the papacy (e.g. translations of texts to be used in liturgical celebrations) is a work in progress that has been going on from the very outset. We celebrate these two heroes who each had their own experience of Jesus and who are both called “apostles.” We have much to thank them for, even as we continue to wrestle with the same challenges! AMEN
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