Peter & Paul!

Second Letter to Timothy 4:6-8.17-18.

For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Saint Matthew 16:13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, «Who do people say that the Son of Man is?» They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. 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."

Food for thought

Today, we celebrate two great men, Peter and Paul. We celebrate these two men together because they're our two heroes, both in life and in death. If Peter discovered that Jesus is the Christ (Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah (= Christ), the Son of the living God), Paul announced that discovery to all the world, especially to non Jews: "the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it".  This is what Peter and Paul did in life FOR THE LORD.

The readings show not only what Peter and Paul did for the Lord, they show us as well what the Lord did, and does, for those who work for him. In the 1st Rending we read: Peter came to himself. ‘Now I know it is all true’ he said. ‘The Lord really did send his angel and has saved me from Herod and from all that the Jewish people were so certain would happen to me.’ (Acts 12:11). And in the 2nd Reading: I was rescued from the lion's mouth.  This is what the Lord did for Peter and Paul, and what he does FOR US today.

We, too, need to grasp the reality that God is all powerful, capable of doing anything and everything to accomplish His will in our lives. Don’t set limits on God, believe Him for the impossible, and watch Him work on your behalf as you stand at your Red Sea, paralyzed by fear. God will show up. 

If there was ever a promise that God knew we would need through the trials and tribulations, it was John 16:33: “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Courage. It’s the opposite of fear. “Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyzes, faith empowers; fear disheartens, faith encourages; fear sickens, faith heals; fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable—and most of all, fear puts hopelessness at the heart of life, while faith rejoices in its God.” —Harry Emerson Fosdick. 

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)

“Do not be afraid! Be strong, and see how the Lord will save you today.” (Exodus 14:13)

“Be strong and have strength of heart. Do not be afraid or shake with fear because of them. For the Lord your God is the One Who goes with you. He will be faithful to you. 

“For I am the Lord your God Who holds your right hand, and Who says to you, ‘Do not be afraid. I will help you.’ ” (Isaiah 41:13)

“The Lord is my Light and my Salvation—whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

As Cherie Hill says, choose faith instead of fear, by trusting Him, even when you’re doubting that you should. Yesterday, he saved Peter and Paul; today he will save you and me.

The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:18)