Friday 29 June
Matthew 16:13-19 • Ss Peter and Paul (Solemnity)
Today we celebrate the feast day of two great pillars of the Catholic Church. The Church is both Petrine and Pauline. The Church is built on the leadership of Peter and the missionary zeal of Paul. They both were flawed and they both were sinners, but they were both raised up by the Lord for a specific mission.
What was most striking about Peter and Paul was their total and absolute love for Jesus of Nazareth. They were more than prepared to lay down their lives for their faith – as indeed they both did. As tradition informs us, Peter was crucified upside down and Paul was beheaded by the sword. We are blessed that God has given us such outstanding models of the Christian life.
What was at the heart of their apostleship? The secret is perhaps that these two men understood the important role revelation played in their lives. In fact, the grace of revelation should play a major role in the life of every Christian. Revelation is not a static, once-and-for-all process but rather a dynamic and deepening process. As St Anselm taught, ‘The same Holy Spirit constantly perfects faith by his gifts, so that revelation may be more and more profoundly understood.’ The late and great Pope John Paul II reminds us that we all need the ongoing grace of revelation:
How had Peter come to this faith? And what is asked of us, if we wish to follow in his footsteps with ever greater conviction? Matthew gives us an enlightening insight in the words with which Jesus accepts Peter’s confession: ‘Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven’ (16:17). The expression ‘flesh and blood’ is a reference to man and the common way of understanding things. In the case of Jesus, this common way is not enough. A grace of ‘revelation’ is needed, which comes from the Father. (Novo millennio adveniente 20)
Paul spoke often about how the gospel he had received had been given to him by the grace or gift of revelation. On this holy feast day we pray especially for this grace of insight, a fresh revelation into the mystery and richness of our faith.
Lord, grant me this special grace that I might enter more deeply into the mystery of the Trinity, learn more of the riches of the incarnation and rejoice in a new way at the sending of the Spirit at Pentecost.
Acts 12:1-11 • Psalm 33(34):2-9
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 • Matthew 16:13-19
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