THE APOSTLES TRANSFORMED INTO ROCK

SOLEMNITY OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL

Acts 12:1-11; Ps 34:2-9; 2 Tim 4:6-8,17-18; Mt 16:13-19

On this Rock I will build My Church

We celebrate the solemn feast of the two apostles of the Lamb, Saints Peter and Paul. We know Peter to be the head of the apostles and the chief shepherd of the Church, the flock of God. He took the place of the Son of Man after his resurrection and ascension into heaven as the Shepherd of the whole Church. His choice was not of human making, but by God Himself. As we know that nothing about the Church is of human making, for God the Father through His Only Begotten Son calls and redeems everyone and uses each to construct the heavenly Jerusalem by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and his sanctification work among us. The office of Peter, which the Church refers to as the Petrine office, plays many roles. The most important of these roles is the primacy in confession of faith in the revelation of God. Thus, it belongs to the Pope, with all the bishops who share the same office with him, to define the doctrines of the Church and uphold them through the ages.

Saint Peter and all the others who stepped into his office as the Pope received this most important office from God the Father Himself. Our Lord Jesus Christ revealed this when Peter unwittingly confessed the identity of the Son of Man. “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is? And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?” This most important question determined who would be the Chief Shepherd after the Lord Jesus Christ. Our answers to the question also determine the degree or level of incorporation of each of us into the body of Jesus Christ. Peter’s answer hit the bull’s eye, thereby revealing his appointment to the sacred office. “Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said, ‘the Son of the living God.’” Our Lord immediately confirmed the fact that the answer was given to Peter by the Father. Peter did not really understand the implications of what he said, as revealed by his subsequent words and actions. It took Peter his whole life to fully comprehend what he confessed about Jesus Christ.

The gradual understanding and containment of the contents of the Church’s faith in Jesus Christ is not only Peter’s experience, but true for each of us. The Lord gave us the Holy Spirit for this purpose, to lead us gradually into the depths of the revealed mysteries. The Church is built on our belief and confession of these divine truths of Jesus Christ, and not so much on our sinful conduct, but on the conduct that professes this same faith. Our conduct will gradually march our confession of faith, as was the case with St. Peter. Hence, the rock refers to his confession first and then gradually to his person, when he had completely changed into Christ Jesus. “Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. So, I now say to you: You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it.” As in the case of Peter, and with him also, we believe and confess our faith in the Son of Man each day. The steadfastness and consistency of our confession incorporate us into the mystical body of Jesus Christ, who forgives us our sins and leads us gradually to share his death, so that we may share his life also.

The same consistent and steadfast confession of faith in Jesus Christ characterised the life of Saint Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. He was found outside the Church when he was practising Judaism and a Pharisee, because he was without the knowledge of Jesus Christ. The Father revealed the Son of Man to him as the Risen and Lord, which marked his turning point and entrance into the mystical body of Christ. His gradual deepening of the knowledge of the identity of the Son of Man marked his whole life. The Holy Spirit guided him on the way to death of his carnal self and transformation into Jesus Christ. He affirmed this, saying, “My life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to be gone. I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his Appearing.” The longing is for the Lord to appear fully within us in fullness of knowledge of the truth of his divine essence. This knowledge will transform us into him. The Father orders everything in our lives to this end.

Let us pray: O God, who on the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul give us the noble and holy joy of this day, grant, we pray, that your Church may in all things follow the teaching of those through whom she received the beginnings of right religion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.