Go Out To All The Nations: Reflection for Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

The Catholic Church commemorates the lives of Sts Peter and Paul. Two men who lived distinct lives, but they received a higher call from Jesus to do something greater. 

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus posed the question to his apostles as to who he was. They all have inaccurate answers. Yet, it was Simon Peter who said that he was the Christ. Jesus responded, "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, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 

Despite losing faith, denying Jesus three times, and lacking clarity, St. Peter would become the first pope of the Catholic Church. He died under Emperor Nero by being crucified upside down in Rome, where his Basilica remains today. 

Paul, whose original name was Saul, was a persecutor of Christians. He oversaw the martyrdom of St. Stephen. Then, on the road to Damascus, everything changed. The risen Christ called him to something greater. Upon converting, he wrote letters to many nations that were stricken by immorality. He even wrote letters to Titus and Timothy. Timothy's letter was chosen for this Sunday as it took place towards the end of St. Paul's life. 

Both found strength in Christ, giving witness to him. Small faith that later grew.

We are called to do the same. Called to soldier on with the faith, never give up, get up when we fall, make fishers of men, and disciples of all nations.