Word to the Wise
Monday, June 29, 2020 - June 29: SS. Peter and Paul, Apostles: Day
[Acts 12:1-11; 2 Tim 4:6-8, 17-18; Matt 16:13-19]"I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith." [2 Timothy] "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]
One of the subjects that seminarians and deacons have to tackle during their academic formation is "ecclesiology." That is a study of what we mean when we speak of "the Church." It can be an interesting exercise to ask a room full of retreatants what each of them means when they speak of "the Church!" Is it "the Body of Christ?" Is it the splendor and baroque expression of Rome and St. Peter's Basilica in particular? Is it the local diocese and its bishop and parishes? Is it any group of the faithful, or even any one person who is faithful to the Creed and sacraments? One wonders what Peter and Paul would think of such questions!! Yet they have come to symbolize two of the major dimensions of what we call "the Church." [Some would add a "Marian" dimension!]
Peter, early on, became the principal representative of the original Twelve Apostles. That leadership was conferred on him by Jesus, as we learn in today's gospel scripture. The shape and form of that leadership has varied over the centuries - something we need to remember. The most important function of the "Petrine Ministry" is the unity of the faith! That unity, battle-scarred as it is, still exists and is now represented by Pope Francis. Peter's personal response to Jesus as impulsive and rash as it could be, showed that Jesus knew well the humanity and shortcomings of his disciples. The cardinals do not elect spiritual robots to be pope.
Paul has come to represent the "charismatic" side of the Church - the enthusiasm and tremendous gifts of the faithful that give flesh to the Body of Christ. His own personal experience of Jesus motivated him to incredible efforts to preach the gospel well beyond the original territory of Palestine. It motivated him to confront Peter on the subject of requiring Gentile converts to be circumcised and observe the Mosaic Law!! His passionate writings are a major source of our faith and understanding of "the Church." He is justly regarded by some church historians as "the second founder" of Christianity.
In celebrating this feast, we are reminded that for each of these two men, the basis of all that they did was their faith in the Risen Lord. It is that relationship that underlies everything. If we turn the Church into just another institution and forget what the Body of Christ truly means, we betray not only Peter and Paul but the Lord himself. All of us baptized carry on their work! AMEN