Word to the Wise
Tuesday, June 29, 2021 - 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......The Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. [2 Timothy] [Jesus] said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For blesh 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]
JUNE 29 STS. PETER AND PAUL - apostles
Peter and Paul stand as giants in the Catholic Church. They were not only colorful and zealous apostles in their own time, but they have come to represent two principal facets of the church's identity! Both these men received their apostolic mission from Jesus. Peter received his from Jesus during the days of Jesus ministry. Paul received his from the Risen Christ and vigorously defended his status. {cf. 1 Cor. 9:1 "Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?"] And when push-came-to-shove, Paul was not shy about confronting Peter on the issue of observance of the Mosaic Law {"I withstood him to his face!" Gal. 2:11]. Peter was called to leadership. Paul was called to mission. These two aspects of the church have lived in tension as long as the church has been in existence. Theologians speak of them as the "Petrine and Pauline ministries."
Enthusiasm and organizational necessity often live in both creative and divisive tension. But if there is bad press, it is usually aimed at the organizational aspect which is portrayed as standing in the way of the mission. Both are necessary to the life of the church. Each has its own contribution to make. Church bureaucracy can seem slow and cumbersome (as it is in any large organization), but it is necessary to keep enthusiasm "on message" and focused. The celebration of the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul can serve as a reminder to us of the amazing living reality that is our Church! AMEN