Homily (Reflection) for the Solemnity
of Saints Peter and Paul, Aps (29th June, 2020) on the Gospel and the Solemnity
Acts 12:1-11;
Ps 33:2-9. (R. v. 5 or v. 8);
2Tim 4:6-8.17-18;
Matt
16:13-19.
Today is the solemnity of the apostles
Peter and Paul. Saint Peter was an apostle to the circumcised while Saint Paul
was called to be an apostle to the uncircumcised, cf. Gal 2:7-9; Rom 11:13; Acts 9:15.
Saint Peter was son of Jonah (Matt 16:17) and brother of Saint Andrew
(Matt 4:18; Mk 1:16; Jn 1:40). He
was a native of Bethsaida, cf. Jn 1:44.
There are two different accounts of his call. According to Matthew, Mark, and
Luke, he was called alongside his brother by the Lord while fishing, cf. Matt 4:18-20; Mk 1:16-18; Lk 5:1-11.
But according to Saint John, Andrew was the one who brought Simon to Jesus, cf.
Jn 1:35-42. Jesus was the one who
named Simon, Cephas (Peter) meaning rock, cf. Matt 16:18; Jn 1:42b. He
is the patron saint of fishermen, net makers, and ship builders.
On the other hand,
Saint Paul was a Jew and a native of Tarsus in Cilicia. cf. Acts 9:11. 21:39. 22:3. He was brought
up in Jerusalem and studied under Gamaliel, cf. Acts 22:3. Saint Paul was a great persecutor of the Church and was
very determined to destroy it, Gal 1:13.
He was converted while on his way to Damascus with a letter from the high
priest to arrest every Christian he could found. He was baptized by Ananias
with the name Paul, cf. Acts 9:1-18.
22:6-16. 26:12-18. Saint Paul is the patron saint of Missionaries,
Theologians, and Gentile Christians.
Saint Peter and Saint
Paul were martyred in Rome. Saint Peter’s was in c. 64 AD and that of Saint
Paul was in c. 67.
Topic: Beyond what others said.
There is a saying in Igbo language, “Nwata tofee onye mụrụ, a jụbazịa onye ka ọ na-anụ ma ọ bụ onye na-anụ
ya” literally meaning that at a point in one’s life, the question will move
from ‘whose child?’ to either, ‘whose husband or wife?” In the development of
human beings, a time comes when people will expect to see what a person has
done and/or is doing. Look at how the letter to the Hebrews expressed it, “For
though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you
again the first principles of God's word” (Heb
5:12; cf. 1Cor 3:2).
The letter to the Hebrews explains the importance of faith, “And
without faith it is impossible to please him [God]. For whoever would draw near
to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Heb 11:6). Where does faith come from?
Saint Paul explained, “faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes
by the preaching of Christ” (Rom 10:17).
But faith should not be seen as something that comes automatically with hearing
the gospel. Otherwise, the world would have been a better place.
In today’s gospel, Jesus first asked His disciples, “Who do
people say that the Son of Man is?” Although they offered a lot of answers but
the whole thing seem to have served as an introduction to the main question, “But
who do you say that I am?” It was Peter who declared, “You are the Messiah, the
Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him,
Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.... I tell you, you are
Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.... I will give you the keys of
the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Faith is the product of the marriage between what is heard,
read, and/or experienced and the inner person. Beyond what they said (ie, what
one heard, read, and/or experienced) is one’s faith or lack of faith. Hence,
Christ gives the power of becoming children of God only to those who received Him,
and believed in His name, cf. Jn 1:12.
Beyond all you have heard, read, or experienced lies what,
faith or lack of faith. Remember that in normal development of anything, at a
point people would start to look for the essence of the thing in question.
Saint Peter did not end up with what people said nor Saint Paul with the
experience on his road to Damascus. It is very abnormal for one to remain at
the level of what people say. God expects each of us to make his/her own
confession. But it starts from what is really beyond what people say, faith or
lack faith. Only he/she who is righteous through faith shall live, cf. Rom 1:17; Gal 3:11.
Bible Reading: Rom 10:5-21; Heb
11:1-40.
Thought for today: What lies beyond what you heard, read, and/or
experienced?
Let us pray: Lord, we can do nothing without you.
We humbly ask you for the gift of faith that will stand every test – Amen.
Saints Peter and Paul – Pray for us.
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