Reflection
Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul
Summer has begun and as the hours of sunlight now lessen each day, we celebrate two great men of the Church, Saints Peter and Paul. They are two ordinary men, one a fisherman and the other a Pharisee and a tentmaker. They are two ordinary men who recognized that God had called them to be something greater than they thought themselves to be. Two ordinary men who had courage to speak the truth that was spoken to them through Christ. They endured suffering for their words and actions through many hardships and trials and yet they kept on believing in the truth that burned in their hearts.
The first reading focuses on the captivity of Saint Peter and his release by one of God’s angels. Peter is obedient to the angel’s instructions and follows them, passing through the heavily guarded prison door. Peter, the faithful fisherman, had changed into a faithful follower and leader of the Church. He embraced his mission and felt the presence of God to assist him when he needed help. There is a glimpse of his intense faith when he makes the statement in Matthew, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” We should note that in the first reading, after Peter was placed in prison, it states, “but prayer by the Church was fervently being made to God on his behalf.” It doesn’t say by Peter, or that Peter prayed. It says, “the Church”. God responded to the prayer of the Church! This reminds us how powerful our prayers are for the Church. Their prayers conveyed their thoughts and feelings from their hearts since many of the prayers we know today did not exist.
Formal prayers are honest and true just as prayers that come from the silence of our hearts are honest and true since that is the place where God listens to us and we listen to God.
The responses of Saints Peter and Paul in today’s readings came from knowing God from deep within their hearts. Prayers come from within our hearts are heard by God, giving us strength when we feel weak, and giving us light when we know darkness. The line from Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God”, expresses an appropriate state for our hearts when we pray. Take time today and sit in silence offering your prayer to God.
