Homily of Bishop Paul for the Solemnity of Ss. Peter & Paul

With joy, we celebrate the two apostles Peter and Paul, chosen by the Lord to be powerful witnesses of his death and resurrection. When we look at the New Testament, we can see that none of them had originally been in search of Jesus. Saint Peter was pushed by his brother Andrew who told him: “We have found the Messiah … He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter).” (John 1:41-42) Without the initiation by his brother Andrew, he would probably never have found the Lord. And Saint Paul was everything but a seeker of Christ. In fact, he started as a ferocious persecutor of those who believed in Jesus, as the risen Lord. None of the two Apostles that we celebrate today seemed to be predestined to play a key role in the foundation of the Church and in spreading the Good News of the Kingdom of God. They were made instruments in the hands of God by Christ.

The Bible speaks about the great deeds of the two Apostles but does not hide their weaknesses. It reports the inconstancy of Simon Peter and the rebukes of the Lord. Jesus has called him in full awareness that the rock on which he wanted to build his Church would more than once be shaking. Remember his words to Peter when he reached out his hand and saved him from drowning: “Man of little faith, why did you doubt!” (Mt 14:31). Or think about the promises of Simon Peter on the evening of the last supper and how miserably he failed the test a few hours later. But Jesus, knowing what would happen, told him: “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Lk 22:31-32) Peter survived the many critical moments not because of his human skills and his special piety but because the Lord abode with him even beyond his death on the cross. Jesus confirmed the choice he once made on the shores of the lake in Galilee as the risen Lord asking Simon Peter: “Do you love me!” “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you!” “Feed my sheep!” Peter is not a superman, but the chosen one by the Lord. We should keep it in mind for our own faith journey, and not forget it, when we speak about the Pope, the bishops, the priests. They are not supermen but chosen by the Lord who knows about their fragilities. However, what counts at the end of the day are not the human skills although they have their importance, but the grace of God.

We can see the same in the life of the apostle Paul whose human limits appear in the acts of the Apostles and in his letters. In the second letter to the Corinthians, he reveals the divine secret of his mission: “To keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness … for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Co 12:7-10) In the life of Paul, the way from a fanatic persecutor of the Christian Way to a passionate instrument in the Lord’s hand was hard and the apostle had to go through a lot of suffering and moments of discouragement. However, “One night (it was in Corinth) the Lord said to Paul in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to harm you, for there are many in this city who are my people’.” (Acts 18:10)

The secret of the successful mission of Peter and Paul is not due to their natural skills or their ability to adjust to new situations. What really counts in their lives is the fact that they have been touched and chosen personally by Christ, the crucified and risen Lord. From him they got the capacity to touch the hearts of the people they were sent to. Simon Peter had to commit himself in person and to strengthen his brothers and sisters. And Paul wanted to live and work among the people giving witness for Jesus Christ. What is true for Peter and Paul applies to everybody who is called to serve the Lord.

Dear brothers and sisters, we are at the threshold of the change from one bishop to another. It is providential that it happens close to the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Like the two apostles we are called to be living witnesses who can touch the heart of others. Sometimes we may not be at the level of our task. However, we can always stick to Jesus as Peter did after failing. Jesus never stops to ask each of us never mind what position we have: “Do you love me (more than the others)?” The holy Eucharist is the right moment to renew with Simon Peter our commitment and to tell Jesus again and again: “Lord, you know everything of my life, the dark and the bright, you also know, that I love you.” Amen.