SS. Peter & Paul 2015
'Two little dickie birds sitting on a wall, one named Peter one named Paul. Fly away Peter, fly away Paul. Come back Peter, come back Paul.'
Here is a little ditty to remind us of who who we are commemorating today – the Apostles Peter and Paul.
Peter was a Jewish fisherman, taught by his father from the earliest of ages how to make a living by fishing. He was chosen by Jesus as one of the twelve to accompany him in his ministry, so Peter was very much an eye witness to the events of Jesus' life. He was a follower, a disciple of Jesus. We also call him one of the 12 Apostles.
Paul was a Jewish teacher, a Pharisee and intellectual who had been trained in rabbinic studies by the great Gamaliel. To make a living Paul was a tent maker. He never knew Jesus and did not accompany Jesus in his ministry. His was a conversion to following Jesus after the resurrection of Jesus. To Paul has also been given the title of Apostle, even though he was not one of the twelve.
Both of these men in their different ways were persuaded that Jesus, son of Joseph of Bethlehem, is none other than the Messiah, the Christ. Both were convinced to call Jesus 'Lord'.
These two men met. Peter had made many mistakes when he was with Jesus, repeatedly mis-understanding what Jesus said, and misreading the signs of the kingdom even though they were at the end of his nose.
Paul had been zealous for guarding the rabbinical tradition and had letters patent to seek out these followers of Jesus and kill them, putting an end to this ridiculous heresy. We have a record of him being present when Stephen, a believer, was put to death. Stephen is the first recorded martyr of the Christian faith.
So these two men met, both convinced that Jesus is Lord. However both had such different understandings of Jesus that they failed to agree about how to spread the good news. Peter was for keeping the new faith for those who were Jews. Paul was all for spreading this good news to all and sundry – to anyone who would listen in fact.
The book called the Acts of the Apostles tells us of a meeting between the 2 men in Jerusalem, and they fail to reach a common understanding about spreading the message. They agree to differ and the two proceed to share the news of Jesus in very different ways.
Despite their differences there are many factors that they held in common. They were convinced of Jesus as Lord; they were persuaded that people needed to hear and receive this news of salvation; they put their lives at risk for the sake of Jesus; and ultimately for the sake of the gospel both were killed, in Rome, within one generation after the death and resurrection of Jesus.
They are remarkable people, both of them, in their different ways. The writings about them, in the Acts of the Apostles, and the writings attributed to them, constitute a considerable chunk of the New Testament. Each in their way are giants – giants of evangelism sharing the name of Jesus with others; and giants of mission – going out from their own security, taking risks, exploring new places, seeking to find where God was leading.
They are missionaries, and they are martyrs – for both were put to death in Rome for the sake of their faith, thus linking them directly with our sisters and brothers in Syria, Iraq, Northern Nigeria, and parts of Pakistan and India. They are one in faith with those Christians who were tipped out of the boats in the Mediterranean as they fled from North Africa to find a better life in Europe.
Missionaries and martyrs. The word missionary is a Latin translation from the Greek noun apostolos – one who is sent. When we say that we believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic church, we are not referring just to apostles some 2000 years ago, but to the fact that we, the church, are sent to the world – we have no option but to be committed to mission for it is in the DNA of the Church. It is our identity. If a church community ceases to be apostolic it has lost its very identity. We are missionary, apostolic.
We are also martyrs. This is a Greek word that means a witness. We don't have to die to be a witness! We use the word too finely for those who have died for the faith. In fact in any way that any of us witnesses to our faith we are being martyrs. Of course, the ultimate witness is to love Christ so deeply that death is preferable to denial.
Peter and Paul are remarkable. This is why they have such a profile in the portfolio of Christians saints, but everything they are, we also can be. Everything they did, we also can do. Everything they achieved, we also can achieve; for we are persuaded that Jesus Christ is Lord and that he has the pre-eminence over all things. Just accept that God is in charge.
These two little dickie birds of the Christian faith are our role models for Christian mission and evangelism, and though they may have gone away from this earth and now wear the martyrs crown, they have come back to us to inspire us, energize us, and encourage us in the faith. This is Peter and Paul, apostles and martyrs.