Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

Sunday Reflections

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

First Reading: Acts 3:1-10 “They were filled with amazement and astonishment at what had happened to him.”

Psalm: 19 “Their message goes out to all the Earth.”

Second Reading: Galatians 1:11-20 “The Gospel preached by me…came through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Gospel: John 21:15-19 “He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’”

Peter and John come across a man “crippled from birth.” He begged for alms at the “Beautiful Gate.” Can you imagine the stream of people entering the Temple, passing by this crippled beggar? I wonder how many people placed alms in his outstretched hands. We do not pass by beggars at our church doors, but we do pass the collection plate. Sometimes we have a second collection for Magdalene House, our social services arm. You do give to those in need when you donate to the collection plate.

Peter and John had something different to give: “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have, I give you: in the Name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, rise and walk.” How did this crippled beggar respond to such an astonishing gift? He “leaped up…walking and jumping and praising God.” This gush of gratitude was the right response. When God gives us good things, we are to praise Him. When He allows misfortune to befall us, we are to praise Him, for He never leaves us alone, never abandons us, and grants us the graces we need to weather the storm. Praise God, seek Him, worship and trust in Him, thank God all the days of your life. The people who saw the beggar “were filled with amazement and astonishment at what had happened to him.” We, too, ought to overflow with joy, love, and thanksgiving for the wonderful ways God works in our lives.

Today’s psalmist proclaims: “Their message goes out through all the Earth.” This Great Commission from Jesus was taken seriously by the Apostles and their disciples: truly their message went out through all the Earth, to every inhabited continent. “The Heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.” In other words, we can see God’s fingerprints throughout Creation. From the tiniest microbe to the most enormous supernova, from the evergreen trees to the mountains, from the “ordinary” water in our drinking glass to the depths of the ocean, God’s design is clear to see. Whatever science uncovers for us, we can stand in awe of God’s power and glory in it. “Through all the Earth their voice resounds; and to the ends of the world, their message.” Yes, the Good News has been spread to all of the inhabited continents of the world, and has survived even the most stringent of regimes, from Communist China to Communist Cuba, from isolationist Japan in the 1800s to the Native American communities who martyred so many of the missionaries sent to them. God’s Word “swiftly runs His command.” (Psalm 147:15)

The Second Reading comes from St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians. St. Paul upbraided the Galatians for having been so “stupid” as to lose the Gospel message Paul had preached to them. Here he announces that the “Gospel preached by me is not of human origin…but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” In other words, when you hear me, you’re hearing Jesus Christ, because Paul preaches in persona Christi – in the Person of Christ. Paul, sinner though he is, and sinner which he confesses to be, was chosen by God: “Who from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son to me, so that I might proclaim Him to the Gentiles.” Paul confesses that “I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.” This is not a person you would expect to be spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. God is indeed a God of surprises! He is faithful, He is reliable, He is ever present, but He is not predictable. God chooses those whom we might not expect to carry His message. Remember that when God selects you for a special mission – He equips the chosen; He doesn’t necessarily choose the equipped. Paul ends by professing: “As to what I am writing to you, behold, before God, I am not lying.” In other words, Jesus really did appear to Paul; Paul really has been sent to the Gentiles to share the Good News; and the Galatians ought to take him at his word and hold fast to the Gospel message Paul gave to them.

In today’s Gospel, St. John recounts an encounter between Simon Peter and Jesus. Jesus gives Simon Peter the wonderful chance to recant his three denials of Jesus with a triple affirmation of his love for Jesus. According to the Greek translation, Jesus asked Simon Peter: “Do you agape Me?” That is, do you love Me with an overflowing, supernatural love that surpasses all other loves in your life? Simon Peter answers: “Yes, Lord, I philia You.” In other words, I love you like a brother. Jesus repeats His question: “Do you agape Me?” Peter responds again: “Yes, Lord, I philia You.” Jesus asks a third time, ratcheting it down to Peter’s ability to love: “Do you philia Me?” Simon Peter affirms that he does, in fact, philia the Lord. God meets us where we are and brings us up to a higher, supernatural level if we cooperate with His graces.

This triple affirmation of love comes with three levels of responsibility for Jesus’ Church: “Feed My lambs;” “Tend My sheep;” and “Feed My sheep.” Jesus gives Peter the obligation and the authority to take care of His Church, the Catholic Church. Naturally, this authority did not end with Simon Peter’s life; it was passed down through each of the popes of the Church. Today, Pope Leo XIV has that obligation and authority to tend to the Church. The Church has been served by 267 popes thus far, from Peter to Leo XIV. Thank God for the Catholic Church and for our apostolic succession; thank God for the popes!