Acts 12:1-11, Ps 33(34):2-9, 2 Tim 4:6-8, 17-18, Mathew 16:13-19
Genuine Transformation
Dear friends, today is the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time. We also observe the solemnity of the Saints Peter and Paul, which is celebrated on June 29th. Since the solemnity takes precedence, my reflection will be based on the proper readings. Both Peter and Paul underwent tremendous transformations from their previous lives to new lives in Christ. Whereas Peter’s was a gradual transformation, Paul’s was rather a drastic one. We will see why. Let’s see the background and personalities of both:
St. Peter was a fisherman by trade, a simple, working-class man. One hand, Peter was impulsive, passionate, and outspoken, often quick to speak or act. Peter was deeply loyal, capable of great love and humility. He was also a natural leader. He once told Jesus that he would give even his life for Him (John 13:37). On the other hand, Peter was prone to fear (denying Jesus three times), sometimes lacked understanding (Mathew 17:4 at the Transfiguration, where he wanted to build three tents, or John 13:8 washing of feet).
Peter’s faith journey was a gradual process of transformation. Being a simple man and not educated, it took him longer to fully understand the mission of Jesus. He was one of the first disciples called by Jesus (Mt 4:18-20). He responded immediately and left his fishing business behind to follow Jesus. He even declared Jesus as the Messiah (Mt 16:16), earning the name “Peter” (rock). He also walked on water for a while before fear made him start to sink (Mathew 14:29-30). Despite denying Jesus three times, Peter repented with sorrow, and after His resurrection from the dead, Jesus reinstated him when he asked three times if he loved him (Jn 21:15-19). After Pentecost, Peter became the leader of the early Church, often speaking on behalf of the Twelve (Acts 2:14-41). He focused mainly on evangelizing the Jews (Gal 2:7–8). He led but allowed himself to be corrected (by Paul in Gal 2). His letters show a deep concern for the flock (1 Peter 5:1-4). Peter was crucified upside down in Rome under Nero, saying he was not worthy to die like Christ.
St. Paul is commonly known as the Apostle to the Gentiles. Before his conversion, Paul was an ardent Pharisee, both a Jew and a Roman citizen, educated under Gamaliel, one of the best teachers of Israel (Acts 22:3). Paul was an intellectual, zealous, bold, strategic, and determined. He was strong in logic and persuasion, a deeply committed, tireless missionary. He visited many places, starting new churches, until his last journey that took him to Rome. However, Paul had his own weaknesses – He could be confrontational (e.g., argument with Barnabas), sometimes misunderstood or opposed (Acts 21:27-36). He also regarded himself as the least of the apostles chosen by the Lord Himself.
Paul was persecuting Christians, convinced that he was cleansing the Jewish religion of falsehood about the Messiah (Acts 8:1-3). However, he had a dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). Afterwards, he became the greatest missionary of the early Church, writing 13 epistles. He preached mainly to the Gentiles, bringing the Gospel beyond Jewish communities. He traveled extensively and endured much suffering for the sake of the Gospel (2 Cor 11:23-28). Paul is known as the greatest theologian and missionary of all time. He articulated Christian doctrine, especially salvation by faith, to both the Jewish elite and the Gentiles. He defended the universality of the Gospel ( See Council of Jerusalem, Acts 15, Galatians 2). He was beheaded in Rome, likely during Nero’s persecution.
Despite their characters and personalities, Peter and Paul accomplished the purpose for which God had called them. Though at a very slow pace, Peter gradually came to understand the mission that Jesus was giving him. Jesus was very patient with him, as he was with the other disciples. In our communities, too, we often hasten to dismiss the people we elect as our leaders because they do not do things at the speed we want. We do not give them time to gather momentum. As soon as they begin their mandate, we start talking ill about them. Jesus kept explaining to his disciples what the kingdom of God was all about, time and again. Sometimes he expressed his frustrations: “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and do you still not know me”? (John 14:9). We, too, keep going astray, but God is always patient with us. Are we not supposed to be patient with others as well?
Paul was a very staunch Jew, but was blind to the Kingdom of God that had come through Jesus Christ. The encounter with Jesus Himself, the true Messiah, blinded him. He needed someone to enlighten him about this truth, which transformed his life for good. He realized that human strength is weakness compared to the grace of God through faith. He became humanly vulnerable but was full of God’s strength and grace. We sometimes do things blindly, thinking that we are right. Many are not lucky to have an Ananiah to enlighten them about the truth. Many are deceived into self-destruction. Others refuse to be enlightened because they are afraid to change and become vulnerable. They want to be in control.
Peter and Paul risked all to follow Jesus, and they were never disappointed. Many people today are afraid of making the leap of faith, thinking that they will be vulnerable to the world. Many businesses in the world today portray life in a very materialistic way. They make people, especially the younger generation, think that freedom and success depend totally on human wits and luck. They disregard personal discipline, hard work, and moral institutions such as religion. When Paul came to a higher comprehension of the grace of God in Christ Jesus, he wrote: “For His (Christ) sake I have accepted the loss of all things, and I consider them so much rubbish that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8). Have you reached this level of understanding of the Kingdom of God?
Dear friends, as we celebrate these two great pillars of our faith and religious tradition, let us consider losing all for the sake of Christ and the Kingdom of God.
Blessed Sunday.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 