Peter and Paul were called to be great apostles in God’s design. It is God’s love for his flock, for his people. Both guided the nascent Christian community through most difficult times – persecution that ended only some 300 years after Christ rose from the dead. The Lord saw deeper into the heart of Peter. As a Galilean, he was quick in temper, and given to quarreling but he was also very chivalrous according to Josephus the historian. What Peter lacked in education he made up with common sense and he was honed by the difficult life of a fisherman who is adept at survival. He was the head of a small shipping company with John and James as helpers. By temperament Peter was sanguine and thus usually of a good mood, friendly and could easily mix with others, entertain and bring different people and groups together. Long before Jesus made him the first of the apostles, Peter stood as the spokesman for the others. He did not hesitate to ask question when he could not understand the words Jesus spoke. There was a kind of an intimacy with Jesus that made him relax to initiate a dialog with Jesus. He even has audacity to tell Jesus he should not die. The Jews communicated with Peter regarding whether they pay their taxes. He asked Jesus what is the reward of those who gave up everything, the meaning of his parables, about the fig tree etc. And in the post resurrection scenes if twas Peter who explained the happening of Pentecost, he calls the election of Mathias. There was a thirst in Peter to know more about Jesus and what he stands for, a search for the meaning of life. He was the first to profess his faith that he is the Son of God. It was true he denied Christ but his love for him is revealed that a mere look from Christ Peter wept profoundly and repented. A sure mark of humility.
ON the other side, there was Paul, formerly called Saul. A zealot for the Law and persecuted Christians. And he brought that same zeal in bringing the good news to the Gentiles, in preaching a risen Lord. Paul was well equipped to be a bridge builder between Judaism and Hellenism. He was steeped in the tradition of the Law having learned from a great teacher, Gamaliel. Today we may say that he has a doctoral in scriptures. He knew Greek well so as to speak it without difficulty and acquired the Greek penchant for wisdom and rhetoric. The stamina and determination that Paul showed for the sake of the gospel in beyond admirable. He travelled about 3,600 miles by land and about 2,600 miles by ships totaling some 6,200 miles – experiencing shipwrecks, afloat in the sea for 3 days and 3 nights, persecuted his fellow Jews and Gentiles too, got whipped 49 lashes less one several times. All for the love of the Risen Lord.
Peter and Paul were not alike. Peter walked with Jesus in Galilee; Paul encountered Him in a vision. Peter ministered mostly to the Jes: Paul became the apostle to the Gentiles. Peter spoke from experience and heart; Paul spoke with reason and rhetoric. And yet, both were apostles. Both were chosen. Both were martyred in Rome, giving their lives as a final witness to the truth of the Gospel
What binds them together, above all else, is their love for Christ. Their journeys – marked by failure, redemption, calling and sacrifice – remind us that the Church is not built o perfect people, but on forgiven ones. It is not sustained by human strength, but divine grace. And it grows through the witness of those who are willing to lay down their lives in word and deed. Their unity in mission also challenges us. IN a time when division often seems stronger than unity – even within the church – Peter and Paul remind us that our differences need not divide us. Unity does not mean uniformity. Their lives show that when we keep Christ at the Center, there is room for diversity of voice. Background and approach in the work of the Gospel.