Dr Jeanette Pinto –
It is awe-inspiring how two simple men followed the footsteps of their Master Jesus, and changed the course of history for 2.6 billion Christians worldwide by mid-2023, and around 3.3 billion by 2050 *’Who were they? This Feast honours the two apostles Saints Peter and Paul in a common celebration on June 29th. They were responsible for laying the foundation for the Church of Christ and are given identical honour. St Clement of Rome identifies Peter and Paul as ‘the outstanding heroes of the Christian faith.’
Peter and his brother Andrew, fishermen on the Sea of Galilee were the first two disciples called to follow Jesus. Peter a simple person recognised that Jesus was the Messiah the first time he saw him. He was a person of integrity, courage, respect and service. Peter enjoyed a special relationship with Jesus. Christ called him the “Rock” and said that upon this Rock He would build His Church.
Peter often confesses his faith in Jesus as is often depicted in the gospels, as spokesman of all the Apostles. John Vidmar, a Catholic scholar writes, “Catholic scholars agree that Peter had an authority that superseded that of the other apostles. Peter is their spokesman at several events, he conducts the election of Matthias, his opinion in the debate over converting Gentiles was crucial…” After Pentecost, Peter became the leader of the Apostles and travelled through Palestine and Asia Minor where he worked multiple miracles and converted many followers. He founded the first Church in Rome and laid the foundation for all future Popes to come.
Paul was a Greek speaking Jew from Asia Minor. His birthplace was Tarsus, his trade was tent making. Paul was raised in the strictest possible tradition of Pharisaic Judaism and was a Pharisee himself. He spent part of his adult life severely persecuting members of the nascent Christian movement, he did not know Jesus before his crucifixion. The Book of Acts suggests he was converted to faith in Jesus Christ in a powerful and intimate encounter about 33 CE, when on a mission to Damascus to persecute the Christians. On the way he had a powerful vision that transformed his life.
Paul was a well-educated man driven by passionate love for Christ and His Church, an apostle who spread the teachings of Jesus Christ in the first-century world. He went on to become one of the most dynamic preachers of the faith. His mission was directed toward the Gentiles who constituted the vast majority of his converts. He preached the death, resurrection and lordship of Jesus Christ, and he proclaimed that faith in Jesus guarantees a share in his life.
For St. Paul, the Church existed at different levels. The most basic being the “Home Church” run by parents and grandparents. This was where Christianity was taught and experienced. In times of persecution, the Home Church was often the only place where Christianity could be lived and transmitted. The next level, the Local Church is where the Gospel was proclaimed in a way the local community could understand and celebrate it according to its own culture and experience.
Paul’s letters reveal a remarkable human being: dedicated, emotional compassionate, sometimes harsh and angry, clever and quick-witted, and above all possessing a soaring passionate commitment to God, Jesus Christ and his own mission. Fortunately, after his death one of his followers collected some of the letters, edited them slightly and published them. They constitute one of history’s most remarkable personal contributions to religious thought and practice.
God has a plan for each life. Peter is listed first among the Twelve Apostles in the Gospels and the Book of Acts. Along with James the Elder and John he formed an informal special triumvirate within the twelve apostles. Jesus allowed them to be the only apostles present at three particular occasions during his public ministry, the Raising of Jairus’ daughter, Transfiguration of Jesus and Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. Saint Paul, had a different calling and role within the Church. His various letters to the Churches make him the patron of the Local Church. He went from being the most unlikely person to adapt Christianity to non-Jews, to being the Apostle of the Gentiles!
Today, Peter is the patron saint of Pope of Rome and of many cities that bear his name – namely St. Petersburg and Saint-Pierre. As a former fisherman, he is the patron saint of netmakers, shipbuilders, and fishermen, and, because he holds the “keys of heaven,” he is also the patron saint of locksmiths. St. Paul is celebrated in the Catholic Church as the patron saint of the missions, writers and publishers. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in the Apostolic Age.
Saints Peter and Paul are considered heroes of the Christian Faith and cornerstones of the Church. One brings light to the message of the Gospel and the other makes the light shine more brilliantly by adapting the message to our world-view. Both died between AD 64 and 68 – they were martyred in Rome under Emperor Nero in the year 67. Peter was crucified head down at his own request. Paul was a Roman citizen therefore, could not be crucified according to Roman law. He was beheaded. May they enjoy God’s glory!
*Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.
Dr Jeanette Pinto, an educator for the past 5 decades, headed the Department of History was Vice Principal of St. Xavier’s College Mumbai, and retired as Principal of Sophia College, Mumbai. She is a counsellor and conductor of Personal Enrichment Programmes for students and teachers.
She set up the Human Life Committee in the Archdiocese of Bombay. As a sex educator she has given talks on Human Sexuality in India and abroad. In 2014 she received the Rachana Outstanding Woman of the Year for her Pro-life work presented by the Diocese of Mangalore. She has attended many National and International Pro-life conferences and given talks at other fora on various women’s issues.
She is author of a couple of books, her most recent ones are titled: I’m Pro-Life Are you? & Sex Talk: Parent to Child. She has also written a number of articles on a variety of themes and subjects, which have been published in research journals, The Examiner and other Catholic publications.
St Paul is singularly responsible for taking. Christianity to what it is today. Absent Paul, there may not have been a new religion called Christianity as St Peter had followed his Master’s instructions to reach out to “lost sheep of Israel”, meaning the Jews who had run away from Israel. Additionally Jesus had instructed Peter and other disciples not to go to gentiles (Mt. 10:5). There were few takers among Jews for Peter’s work and he had had to toe the line with Paul. We the gentiles have accepted Jesus thanks to the seed planted by Paul. But, what is not clear is whether Jesus has accepted us the gentiles as being worthy to take him as our Master. . We will need to wait for his second coming to get an answer. Hopefully, he will not ask, “Christians who are they?”