Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Solemnity for Saints Peter and Paul, wey be Apostles
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“So I dey tell you, na Peter you be, and na on top this rock I go build My Church, and di gate dem of di land of di dead no go overpower am. I go give you di key dem to di Kingdom of heaven. Anything wey you tie for earth go dey tied for heaven; and anything wey you loose for earth go dey loosed for heaven.” Matthew 16:17–19
People dey often call Saint Peter and Saint Paul two of di great “Pillar Dem for di Church.” Each of dem play role wey really matter well-well for how di early Church take start. Even though both of dem role matter and serve as foundation, their role different from each other just as dem different as persons.
Peter na family man, local fisherman, person wey no go school and ordinary man. From wetin we know about am before Jesus call am, nothing dey wey make am specially qualify to become one of di pillar dem for di new Church wey di Son of God go establish. Jesus just call am, and e answer. Jesus enter Peter boat, tell am to lower di net dem, and make dem catch plenty fish. When Peter see this miracle, e fall for Jesus feet and admit say e be “sinful man” wey no worthy to dey for Jesus presence (See Luke 5:8). But Jesus tell Peter say from that time, na people e go dey catch. Peter leave everything behind at once and follow Jesus.
Paul describe imself as “Jew, wey dem born for Tarsus for Cili′cia, but wey grow for this city under Gama′li-el teaching, wey learn according to di strict way of di law of our papa dem, and wey get strong zeal for God just as all of una get today” (Acts 22:3). Paul learn well-well di strictest way to understand di Jewish law, e understand philosophy, and e get strong zeal as young man. Remember too say, before e convert to Christianity, e “persecute di church of God with violence and try to destroy am” (Galatians 1:13). For plenty ways, people for see Paul as di person wey dem least expect say dem go choose to be pillar for di Church, because e strongly oppose am at first. E even support di killing of Saint Stephen, di first Christian martyr.
Even though plenty people for no expect any of these two men to become founders of di Christian Church, na exactly wetin dem become. After Paul conversion, e travel far and wide to preach di Gospel, and e establish plenty new Church communities across Asia Minor and Europe. Later, dem arrest am for Jerusalem, carry am go Rome to face trial, and cut off im head. Na Paul dem credit with writing more than half of di book dem for di New Testament, and half of di Acts of di Apostles give full account of Paul missionary journey dem. People especially know Paul for im missionary work among di Gentiles, people wey no be Jews.
Peter role really different from any other. Jesus change im name from “Simon” to “Peter.” Remember wetin Jesus talk, “And I dey tell you, na Peter you be (Petros), and na on top this rock (petra) I go build My church…(Matthew 16:18). “Peter” for Greek na Petros, wey mean one stone wey person fit move. But di Greek word petra mean rock wey stand as one solid body, wey no dey move, wey nobody fit move, and wey dey last. So, Jesus choose to make Peter, this one stone, become solid foundation of rock wey nobody fit move, wey dem go build di Church on top.
Our Lord don call you too to one special mission inside di Church wey E no give another person. For your own way, God want use you take carry di Gospel reach some people, just as E do with Saint Paul. And like Saint Peter, God want continue to establish Im Church on top you and your faith.
Today, think deeply about these two holy pillar dem for our Church, wey each one get im own special role. As you dey do so, think about how God fit want use you to continue their mission for this world. Even though Saint Peter and Saint Paul dey among di greatest Christians wey their work don get di biggest effect for our world, their mission must continue, and you dey among di instrument dem wey God want use. Give yourself fully to this mission so that di preaching of di Gospel and di rock foundation of our Church go remain strong for our own time, just as e be for olden days.
Saint Peter, na you dem specially choose to be rock foundation of faith wey dem establish di Church on top. Saint Paul, you go out to preach this faith far and wide, and you establish plenty new communities of faith. Abeg, my dear Lord, use me to continue di mission of Your Church so that di faith go take firm root for di mind and heart of all Your people throughout di world. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint for Today – Saint Peter and Saint Paul
