Dear brothers and sisters, may the peace of our Lord Jesus be with you always. As we celebrate two great pillars of the Church—Saints Peter and Paul, we rejoice in how the Lord worked in their lives, as we give thanks that we see common elements in our own walk of faith. Two men so different in background, temperament, and personality, and yet united in their love for Christ and their total surrender to His will. This solemnity reminds us that the Church is built on the unity and joy we find in Peter following Christ, on him and his faith that the Son of the Living God has descended into our world to save us. Paul would follow suit and eventually be assigned by the Lord himself to preach this good news to all nations.

In the Gospel today, we hear the powerful moment at Caesarea Philippi, when Jesus asks all the apostles, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This confession changes everything. Jesus responds, “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.” Peter receives his name and mission not because of his own strength, but because he would gradually be prepared to be a source of strength for his brethren.
At the Last Supper, Peter thinks he is strong, declaring to Jesus that he would go to prison and even to death if need be. Yet, he knew not the deceptive and spell-binding powers of Satan, for our Lord declares to him “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:31-32). It is only through our Lord’s grace that we are able to find the strength for spiritual combat. Peter learns this lesson really well so that as we hear of in the First Reading, imprisoned by Herod, sleeping between two guards on the night before his expected trial and death, he is at peace, trusting in God. An angel rescues him. We cannot forget our angels, my dear brothers and sisters, both fallen and glorious. Satan and his minions are all over the place, but so are our angels, because God never allows us to fight without being aided. Peter experiences just how much angels are a part of our lives and God’s plan for us.
Now, if Peter is the rock, Paul is the flame. A man of fiery zeal, converted from a persecutor of Christians into the Apostle to the Gentiles. His words in the Second Reading from 2 Timothy are hauntingly beautiful: “I am already being poured out like a libation... I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” Paul’s life was one of tireless proclamation, of suffering for the Gospel, of enduring imprisonment, shipwrecks in Malta and three other places, rejection, and finally martyrdom in Rome. And yet he says with confidence: “The Lord stood by me and gave me strength... The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom.” Notice the deep similarity to the spiritual evolution of Peter as I described earlier. He mentions how evil threatened him, and yet, how the Lord stood by him and gave him strength.
Friends, we live in times of confusion, polarization, and growing hostility to faith. What the Church needs now is not cleverness, nor strength in numbers, but faith like Peter’s and courage like Paul’s.
Let us not forget: the same Spirit who strengthened Peter in chains and Paul in prison now lives in the Church today. He lives in us. If we let Him, He will make of us what He made of them: passionate saints, willing to give it their all to love and serve the Lord, who is always by our side to strengthen each of us.
Saint Peter and Saint Paul, intercede for us.
Amen.
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