Reflection for Sunday 29th June, 2025

Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles ‐ Solemnity

Peter and Paul (Matt 16:19)

Although Peter and Paul have separate feastdays, The Chair of Peter, (Feb 22nd) and The Conversion of Paul (January 25th), there is a reason for their sharing today’s celebration. As the young Church expanded, its two great leaders, Peter and Paul, settled in Rome, centre of the Roman Empire. Legends had it that the city of Rome was founded by the twin brothers, Romulus and Remus who were reputed to be children of Mars, the god of war.

They were suckled by a she-wolf until they were adopted by a shepherd and his wife. Romulus, lusting for power, killed his brother Remus. The emblem for Rome is a wolf and the letters SPQR, meaning the Senate and People of Rome. Little wonder that an empire going back to the god of war, to a wild wolf, and to a murdering brother, did not hesitate to use brutal violence to form a great empire. By contrast, Peter and Paul settled in Rome to promote an empire of Christian mercy, love and peace.

After the miraculous catch of fish, he appointed Peter as the new shepherd of the flock. “Feed my lambs, feed my sheep.” From then on, Peter and his successors have been elected as leaders of the Church, as Pontiffs, a title which means bridge-builders.

New names

In today’s Gospel, Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do people say I am?” Names of former heroes were recalled. “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter spoke up. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This was the first time that Jesus was given the new name, Christ. It is a name meaning the Anointed One. To the Jews this meant the promised Messiah. In the Old Testament, people were anointed unto three important leadership roles, as prophet, priest, or king. A prophet’s role was to reveal God’s presence and action in our lives now and in the future. A priest’s ministry was to mediate between people and God in their worship. A king was anointed to serve the people with responsibility and care. Now, all three roles are found in the one person, Jesus, so he is called the Christ, the Anointed One.

Naming Peter

It was Simon, son of Jonah, who identified Jesus with the new name of Christ. Then it was the turn of Simon to receive his new name which would express his new role. Jesus knew that Simon had received a very special gift of God “It was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. So now I say to you: You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.” This new name, Peter, means a rock. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus had spoken of building a house on solid rock. The first foundation rock of the house of the Church would be Peter who was promised the keys of the kingdom. Keys represent authority. Then Jesus looked to the future. “And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it.” In other words, the powers of evil will never conquer this Church. Never! What a wonderful promise! After the resurrection, the Risen Lord appeared to Simon Peter and six other fishermen. After the miraculous catch of fish, he appointed Peter as the new shepherd of the flock. “Feed my lambs, feed my sheep.” From then on, Peter and his successors have been elected as leaders of the Church, as Pontiffs, a title which means bridge-builders.

Mission of Paul

Paul was educated in the art of rhetoric and qualified as a Pharisee. Alarmed by the rapid increase in the followers of Jesus Christ, he set out to arrest them and have them stoned to death if necessary. As he travelled towards Damascus he received a miraculous revelation from the Risen Jesus. After two years of intensive meditation, he began to preach. Barnabas encouraged him to travel among the gentiles. He brought the Christian message to countries as distant as Spain.

Martyred

A martyr literally means a witness and the greatest witness is the courage to lay down one’s life. Peter was crucified. Paul, because he was officially a Roman citizen, was spared the humiliation of crucifixion, but was killed by the sword. Whenever it was possible, pagan festivals were replaced by Christian feasts. The celebration of the legendary Romulus and Remus was replaced by the Solemnity of Peter and Paul, Apostles of the Christian religion.