Sunday 29 June 2025. Readings: Acts 12:1-11, Ps. 34:2-9, 2 Timothy 4:6-8,17-18, Matthew 16:13-19
“I have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
Today, the Church celebrates two great saints who were instrumental to the growth and development of the church in its early beginnings. The fact that this solemnity replaces the regular Sunday liturgy highlights the significance of Saints Peter and Paul in Christianity. Can you imagine the church today without the leadership provided by Peter or without the missionary prowess of Paul (the author of more than half of the entire New Testament)?
As to why these two saints are celebrated together, the church wishes to teach us a lesson: Being a leader does not make you higher (or superior) than your followers. Our contributions in God’s vineyard may be different, but before God, we are all equals. Even though the disciples often argued among themselves about who was the greatest, the church, in its wisdom, decided to celebrate both Peter and Paul today, to prevent us from taking sides or arguing about which is greater among the two.
Today’s Solemnity also challenges us to be the best version of ourselves as we strive to follow Christ’s footsteps on earth. Peter and Paul have long since passed away, but their legacies continue to shine. If they had approached their calling with the same lackadaisical attitude displayed by many Christians today, we would not be celebrating them today. Our time on earth is relatively short, but our impact can last for eternity. Live in a manner that the world would feel obliged to celebrate you long after you have gone.
Let us now examine some lessons contained in today’s readings:
1. God Doesn’t Call the Qualified (or Proud); But Transforms Those Who Say “Yes” to His Call
Three Sundays ago, we celebrated the Solemnity of Pentecost. We read how the apostles, including Peter, were gathered in the upper room praying when there was “a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.” (Acts 2:2-3). This transformative event marked the birth of the church to the world. From that moment, there was no going back. Peter, who had been very timid, became a bold proclaimer of the Word. On that day of Pentecost, Peter’s sermon converted three thousand persons to Christianity. (Acts 2:41).
Not long after that Pentecost Day, Peter became a miracle worker, so much so that “they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, so that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by.” (Acts 5:15). As a man, Peter was weak; he wasn’t even qualified to be among the twelve apostles, not to mention being a leader of the church. Peter’s choice is a testament to the saying: “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).
In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus, knowing that He was getting close to fulfilling His purpose on earth and desiring to appoint a visible leader for the church, tested His disciples by asking them two questions: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” and “Who do you say I am?” Surprisingly, it was Peter, the fisherman who never had the privilege of studying with the Rabbis, who answered correctly. Jesus knew that Peter’s answer did not come from his head, but that he had received inspiration from above. “For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17)
Jesus gladly entrusted the keys of leadership to Peter, despite his weaknesses, to prove to us that the sustenance of the church does not depend on strong men, but on God. Even after receiving the keys, Peter remained fully human; he tried to discourage Jesus from the cross (this made Jesus address him as Satan), he spoke without thinking, he denied Jesus three times, he returned to fishing after the resurrection and he displayed a hypocritical attitude warranting Paul to rebuke him publicly. (cf. Galatians 2:11-14). To this day, the church is not sustained by the human qualities of the Pope (who is capable of making mistakes), but by God himself.
Do you feel called by God? Do not be discouraged by your weaknesses – focus instead on God and make yourself available. He will use you to do great wonders.
2. Every Saint Had a Past; Every Sinner Has a Future
Like Peter, Paul wasn’t perfect. Here is a man who supervised the death of the first Christian martyr, Stephen. (Acts 7:58). A man who went about dragging Christians out of their homes, forcing them to either renounce Christ or go to prison. (Acts 8:3) A man who was determined to wipe out (abort) Christianity while it was still in the womb. A man who was responsible for the flight of many Christians out of Jerusalem. Acts 9:1-2 reads, “Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.”
The fact that we are celebrating this same man today tells us that there is no sin God cannot forgive. Have you had a terrible past? It is not too late to seek God’s face. Do not define yourself (or anyone) by your misdeeds. Do you know that even after Paul’s encounter with Jesus on his way to Damascus, he did not automatically become sinless? You may have repented several times, but still find yourself falling back into sin. This should not discourage you. Get up every time you fall. Even Paul confessed:
“For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not wish to. Now, if I do what I do not want to, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. So, I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (Romans 7:18-24).
Ordination to the priesthood or consecration to religious life does not remove our humanity or concupiscence. Instead, it helps us understand the challenges faced by those whom we intend to convert. St. Paul was highly successful because he used himself as an example. This is why his writings continue to strike our hearts today.
3. The Christian life is all about fighting the Good Fight and running the Race of Salvation.
In today’s second reading, St. Paul summarises the Christian life when he said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” What is the good fight? It is the fight against the flesh and its craving for sin. As St. Paul teaches, “Brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh, for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:12-13).
The good fight also involves wrestling against the forces of darkness, principalities and powers in our world. St. Paul recommends that we put on the whole armour of God, which includes truth, righteousness as a breastplate, the gospel of peace, faith as a shield, salvation as a helmet, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:12-17). As Christians, we are soldiers fully equipped to fight spiritual battles at any time. According to Pope Francis, “The devil is real and his greatest achievement in these times has been to make us believe that he doesn’t exist.” Don’t play and you will learn.
On the other hand, the Christian life is also a race that requires constant training, dedication, and commitment. As St. Paul says, “Do you not know that in a race, all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all aspects of their life. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we receive an imperishable wreath. Well, I do not run aimlessly or box as one beating the air, but I pommel my body and subdue it lest I be disqualified after preaching to others.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
4. While The Fight and Race May Seem Unending, Victory Is Assured
Finally, today’s first reading and even our second reading teach us that despite the many challenges and trials we face as Christians, we are not helpless. God has not and will never abandon us. Writing to Timothy, St. Paul testifies, “But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So, I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:17-18)
After killing James, the brother of John, Herod arrested Peter, intending to bring him to trial to make fun of him publicly, but the Christian community joined hands in prayer for Peter, and God set him free that night. Peter thought he was seeing a vision, not knowing everything was real. This shows us that God answers prayers. Recently, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria called for a nine-day novena prayer to end insecurity in the country. Many criticised this call for prayer, saying the Church should do more. What makes you think prayers do not work?
You may ask me why we are wearing red (a symbol of the blood shed by the martyrs) during our celebration of Saints Peter and Paul instead of white. Does it mean, despite the assurance of victory, we could still die as martyrs for Christ? Yes. Peter and Paul experienced so many moments of victory during their lives, but the ultimate victory came when they accepted martyrdom. Tradition suggests Peter requested crucifixion upside down because he felt unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus. Paul, being a Roman citizen, could not be crucified and was instead beheaded. Do not let the fear of death prevent you from testifying to your Christian faith. Unless it is your destined time to die, nothing can kill you. Even if they throw you into the furnace, God will protect you.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, as we celebrate Saints Peter and Paul, help us to follow in their footsteps to win the good fight and run the race before us. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles. Liturgical Colour: Red. Bible Study: Acts 12:1-11, Ps. 34:2-9, 2 Timothy 4:6-8,17-18, Matthew 16:13-19).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu