
Today were celebrating the feast of St Peter and Paul. At first glance it’s hard to imagine two more different men. Peter, one of the first disciples called by Jesus, who followed him on his journeys through the region.
He was a fisherman and is unlikely to have had much formal education. One of the first disciples Jesus called, he left his family and livelihood to follow him and was with him throughout his ministry. He he could be impetuous, sometimes to the point of foolishness, direct and passionate.
Paul, on the other hand was well educated, articulate and sure of himself. Never having met Jesus, he spent his life zealously persecuting Christians. Then an encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus turned him into a passionate Christian. He gave his life over to spreading the gospel and his work still shapes the church today.
Despite their apparent differences of personality and background there is an underlying bond between them. These words from Jesus’ conversation in today’s gospel sums up the source of that bond. When he asked the disciples, “But you,… Who do you say I am?” It is Peter who is able to answer:
“You are the Christ… The Son of the living God.”
Their conviction that Jesus is the Christ and their willingness to leave everything to follow him is the source of their connection. Their feast calls us to reflect on how our belief that Jesus is the Christ shapes the way we live our lives.
How is Christ calling you to follow him today?