Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Apostles Saints Peter and Paul. St. Augustine writes that “this day has been made holy by the passion of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, these martyrs who realized what they taught: they pursued justice, they confessed the truth, they died for it.” A more recent author suggests Today’s double commemoration of Peter and Paul and its early history indicate that its real significance is the celebration of the foundation of the ancient church of Rome, which became the mother of the churches throughout the West.

We begin with another awful Herod who had James killed and Peter arrested, like Herod the so-called Great when Jesus was born and the tetrarch Herod who had John the Baptist beheaded. Peter is imprisoned during the feast of Passover with the gathered church praying fervently to God for him. An angel awakens Peter and directs him to get dressed and follow him out, though Peter did not realize what was happening and thought it was a vision. So the prayers of the church are answered and Peter recognizes the Lord has freed him.

In the second reading Paul is writing to his companion and close friend Timothy. A little dramatically he says his life is poured out, his departure at hand, a way of indicating his death is near as he writes from his imprisonment in Rome. Using athletic imagery in relation to his ministry he claims to have competed well and finished the race. More importantly he adds he kept the faith, an understatement given all the disappointments and sufferings he endured. Later in the passage he credits strength from the Lord that enabled him and others to complete the proclamation of the gospel to the Gentiles (non-Jews). While doing so he was rescued from the lion’s mouth and will thus be brought safely to the heavenly kingdom, as we too desire.

Now he is awaiting the crown of righteousness the Lord will award to him and to all who long for his appearance. For doing so all of us who long for the Lord to come again are included in that reward promised at death even if then the Lord has not yet come again.  

The gospel is the well-known profession of faith in Jesus by Peter on behalf of the disciples. When asked by Jesus who people say he is, the disciples respond they recall holy persons from the past: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the other prophets. But Peter’s response is completely in the present. Jesus is the Christ, meaning the anointed one, the long-awaited messiah and savior. Jesus is the Son of God, uniquely the Son of God even though we rightly are also children of God.

In reply Peter is then proclaimed as the foundation of the church, though we know Jesus to be its cornerstone or head. This is the first use of the term church in the gospel. The Greek word it is translating means those called together, and the Aramaic word that Jesus probably used is translated as assembly. So the church is people, the people of God; the church is us.
—Edward O’Donnell SJ

Today’s readings can be found at the US Conference of Catholic Bishops website.