The Transforming Power of Divine Grace!

 (Homily for the Solemnity of SS. Peter and Paul)

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. Indeed, the liturgy of today presents to us Saint Peter and Saint Paul, the two great Apostles of the early Christian community, as teachers and confessors of the faith. "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God," Peter proclaims on behalf of the other disciples in response to Jesus' question: "But who do you say I am?" This same confession of faith is the reason why Herod Agrippa persecuted and imprisoned Peter to satisfy the scribes and Pharisees (first reading). For his part, Paul, now at the end of his life, opens his heart to Timothy with a beautiful and significant statement: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith"; and a few verses later: "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."

The first reading (Acts 12:1-11) presents the persecution of Herod Agrippa, we are told that he killed James the brother of John and arrested Peter, he put Peter in prison, surrounded by four guards. However, while he was in the prison the Christian community was earnestly praying for him. And the night Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with chains, when an angel of the Lord appeared, light shown in the cell and woke Peter: “get up quickly” and he was strengthened, “the chains fell off” his liberation was accomplished and he told him “follow me”, Peter thought it was a vision, “the iron gate leading to the city opened on its own”. Here, we see the power of divine grace at work. In fact, later he exclaimed “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod”. Salvation and liberation come from the Lord. This teaches us that the Lord never abandons those who trust in him, those who risk and sacrifice their life for the sake of the Gospel. This episode, is a reminder to us that faithfulness to our Christian vocation may lead us to trouble, but the Good News is that we will always have the angel on our side. It is interesting to note that this episode took place in the night; and permit me to say that the Lord seems to prefer the night, so that the effulgence of His light will dispel the darkness and uncertainties of the night. We remember equally, the experience of the Israelites in Egypt (cf. Ex 14:19-20). He continues to intervene for his people especially in moments of darkness obscurity and uncertainty. He will intervene also for you especially in those moments you think that all hope is lost, in the night of your human existential experience, when you are tired and weary like Peter.

The Gospel passage (Mt 16:13-19) situates us within the context of Caesarea Philippi where Jesus asked his disciples the question on His identity: Who do people say the Son of Man is? This dialogue with his disciples introduces the first dramatic revelation on Jesus. The passage can be divided into two parts:

First, dwells on the interrogations of Jesus and their responses. Who do people say the Son of Man is? They said “Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Jesus now addressed the question to them. But you…Who do you say I am? And Peter spoke up, “You are the Christ… the Son of the living God.” Indeed, to proclaim that He is the Messiah means that there has never been or will be anybody like him. Prophets are great men but they are not the Saviour of the world. Jesus is for a Christian more than the Baptist or the prophets of old, rather He is the Christ, the Son of the living God. If Jesus were to ask us the same question, what would be our response? Who is Jesus for you?

Second, is Jesus’ response to Peter “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church”, this entails that Peter is the solid rock on which the Church is built, but interpretations on this abounds. In the language of Jesus Kephas, does not mean rock, but simply building rock. Here Jesus precisely was referring to the faith of Peter in Him. Later Jesus added: “And the gates of the underworld shall not prevail against it”, that is, the forces of evil and whatever that is against life cannot prevail against it. Again, Jesus continued, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…” Jesus bestowed on Peter authority of service.

In the second reading (2Tim 4:6-8.17-18) Paul writes to his friend and co-worker Timothy from his prison in Rome. Paul was aware that the time of his departure was at hand and that his blood was to be poured out like a libation. He is like a competitor trying to win a race. Paul knew he like an athlete has consumed his energy for Christ, and he now waits for the crown of glory.

Our two great saints Peter and Paul have taught us how to proclaim and live the Gospel with courage, audacity and without selfishness and fear. Let us consider a bit their lives and encounter with the Lord individually:

►Peter: He was born as Simon (meaning hearing) to Jonah (John 1:42) from Bethsaida in Galilee (John 1:44). His name was changed to Peter (rock) by our Lord Jesus Christ when he acknowledged him as the Son of God (Matt.16:17ff). He was married but nothing is mentioned about his family apart from the mention of his mother-in-law who was sick and was cured during the visit of our Lord Jesus Christ to his house in Capernaum (Mark 1:29-39). Simon was a fisherman by profession and he undertook the trade with his brother Andrew. He was called by our Lord while he was fishing and he (and his brother Andrew) left everything and followed Jesus Christ (Matt.4:18-19; Luke 5:10-11). We can view him from six different perspectives:

● Simon the crude and sinful fisherman (Luke 5:8). 

● Simon the mouth piece of God and the Rock (Matt.16:18).

● Peter the obstacle (Satan) to the mission of Christ (Matt. 16:23).

●Peter the beholder of the glory of God at the transfiguration (Mark 9:2-5).

● Peter the fighter with a sword (John 18:10).

●The Peter who denied the Lord (Luke 22:55-60).

In fact there were many aspects of Simon Peter before the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. After the resurrection we see a Peter who was gradually transforming and decisively audacious. When the Lord calls us He changes our condition (Simon, Kaifa, Peter). That of Peter is call of service and not of honour (servant and pastor). In the words of St. Ambrose “ubi Petrus, ibi ecclesia” (which does not mean that he is alone all the Church, but it means that there cannot be Church without Peter).

 ►Paul: St. Paul was born as Saul in Tarsus, the capital city of the Roman city of Cilicia, to a Jewish family belonging to the tribe of Benjamin (Phil. 3:5). He was a Pharisee as well as Roman Citizen (Acts 22:25-27). He was educated under the renowned school of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). When Stephen was stoned to death by Jewish fanatics, Saul was there to support them. The turning point in the life of Saul (Paul) was his encounter with Jesus, which led to his conversion. The conversion of Saul was a total transformation, from readiness to persecute the new religion to Readiness to take risks for God (2Cor. 5:2-8). He was really transformed through that encounter. In his words, “I am still pursuing the price for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Phil. 3:12). “It is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me (Gal 2:20). “The love of Christ overwhelms us” (2Cor 5:14). He made several missionary journeys, converted hundreds of Jews and Gentiles and established Church communities. He wrote 14 epistles. He was arrested and kept in prison for two years in Caesarea and two more years in Rome. Finally, he was martyred by beheading at Tre Fontane in Rome.

Above all, our two saints stand for us as veritable examples of witnesses of faith. Indeed, words, even the most sublime, will not find acceptance and conviction if they are only words and not life, lived examples. Following the example of Jesus Christ, who gave his life for all in coherence with his preaching, Peter and Paul will culminate their witness of Christian life by dying for the faith they believed, preached, and confessed throughout the Mediterranean region. Martyrdom thus becomes the seal of the authenticity of their faith, the sure pledge for us of the truth they communicated and left as an inheritance, of which they are at the same time unshakeable and timeless pillars.

Interestingly, when we look at the personalities of Peter and Paul, we cannot but see how God called them to transform them and use their personalities to spread the Gospel. He used the impetuous love of Peter to look after the flock. Similarly, he used the training Paul had as a Pharisee and his strength of character to ensure that the Gentiles (non-Jewish people) would be welcomed into the Church. This indeed, is a reminder to us that our talents and our weaknesses too can become instruments in God’s hands and means of helping others, if we dispose ourselves. We don’t have to be perfect for God to work through us; we only need to dispose ourselves. Let us pray for the apostolic zeal and missionary spirit of Saints Peter & Paul, Amen!

Rev. Fr. Vitus Chigozie, SC