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“And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will
build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail
against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever
you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew
16:17–19
Saints Peter and Paul are often referred to as two of the great
“Pillars of the Church.” They each played an incredibly essential
role in the establishment of the early Church. And though each of
their roles was essential and foundational, their roles were as
different as they were different as persons.
Peter was a family man, a local fisherman, uneducated and quite
ordinary. From what we know about him prior to being called by
Jesus, there was nothing that made him uniquely qualified to become
one of the pillars of the new Church to be established by the Son
of God. Jesus simply called him, and he responded. Jesus got into
Peter’s boat, ordered him to lower the nets, and produced a huge
catch of fish. When Peter saw this miracle, he fell down at Jesus’
feet and acknowledged that he was “a sinful man” who was unworthy
of being in Jesus’ presence (See Luke 5:8). But Jesus informed
Peter that he would from now on be catching men. Peter immediately
left everything behind and followed Jesus.
Paul describes himself as “a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cili′cia, but
brought up in this city at the feet of Gama′li-el, educated
according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being
zealous for God as you all are this day” (Acts 22:3). Paul was well
educated in the strictest interpretation of the Jewish law,
understood philosophy and was quite zealous as a young man. Recall,
also, that prior to becoming a convert to Christianity, he
“persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it”
(Galatians 1:13). In many ways, Paul would have been seen as the
most unlikely person to be chosen to be a pillar of the Church,
because he so vigorously opposed it at first. He even supported the
killing of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
Though each of these men would have been considered by many as very
unlikely founders of the Christian Church, this is exactly what
they became. Paul, after his conversion, traveled far and wide to
preach the Gospel, founding several new Churches throughout Asia
Minor and Europe. Eventually he was arrested in Jerusalem, brought
to Rome for trial and was beheaded. Over half of the New Testament
books are attributed to Paul and half of the Acts of the Apostles
detail Paul’s missionary journeys. Paul is especially known for his
missionary activity to the Gentiles, those who were not Jews.
Peter’s role was truly a unique one. His name was changed from
“Simon” to “Peter” by Jesus. Recall Jesus saying, “And I tell you,
you are Peter (Petros), and on this rock (petra) I
will build my church…(Matthew 16:18). “Peter” in Greek is
Petros, meaning a single stone that is movable. However, the
Greek word petra means a rock as a solid formation that is
fixed, immovable, and enduring. Therefore, Jesus chose to make
Peter, this single stone, into a solid foundation of immovable rock
on which the Church was to be built.
You, too, have been called by our Lord to a unique mission within
the Church that has not been entrusted to another. In your own way,
God wants to use you to reach certain people with the Gospel as He
did with Saint Paul. And like Saint Peter, God wants to continue to
establish His Church upon you and your faith.
Reflect, today, upon these two holy and unique pillars of our
Church. As you do, ponder how God may want to use you to continue
their mission in this world. Though Saints Peter and Paul are among
the greatest and most consequential Christians within our world,
their mission must continue, and you are among the instruments that
God wants to use. Commit yourself to this mission so that the
preaching of the Gospel and the rock foundation of our Church will
remain strong within our day and age just as it was of old.
Saint Peter, you were uniquely chosen to be a rock foundation of
faith upon which the Church was established. Saint Paul, you went
forth to preach this faith far and wide, establishing many new
communities of faith. Please use me, dear Lord, to continue the
mission of Your Church so that the faith may be firmly planted in
the minds and hearts of all Your people throughout the world.
Jesus, I trust in You.
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Featured image above: Saint Peter and Saint Paul
By Jusepe de Ribera, via Wikimedia Commons
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