The Festival of St. Peter and St. Paul

Matthew 16:13-19

+INJ+

The Festival of St. Peter and St. Paul is one of the oldest in the Church’s history, dating back to A.D. 250. These two Apostles share this date due to the tradition that they were both martyred and died by the order of the Roman Emperor Nero on this day in A.D. 68. St. Peter was famously killed by crucifixion on an upside-down cross, as he did not feel worthy to die in the same manner as Christ. St. Paul experienced a quicker death by beheading because he was a Roman citizen. 

No matter the method of their deaths, the cause or reason they were put to death was their confession of faith in Jesus Christ.

As St. Peter said clearly in our Gospel reading today, when questioned by Jesus, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Peter eventually responds, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Would you be so bold as to make this statement?

Honestly, are you so bold?

Surely you want to say yes, but how often do you ponder and reflect on what it means to confess Jesus Christ in the world, in your homes, and in your lives?

Do you think about how you speak in conversations, the words you choose, or the actions you take when a spouse or sibling makes you upset? What about the banter you exchange with friends? Do they reflect and show that you are a child of God, a disciple, and a follower of Jesus Christ? 

I’d say that too often we don’t realize how our words and actions in our daily lives reveal our beliefs and faith to those people God brings into our contact. Unfortunately, we’ve become conditioned to be reactive, not taking the time to pause or think about what we should say or do; we just act.  

We see this with Peter later in the Gospel of Matthew as Jesus now foretells how the disciples will all scatter and abandon Him, but Peter said, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” (Matthew 26:33)

We all want to be as bold and confident as St. Peter, don’t we?

But we know what happened to Peter: when Jesus was arrested on that first Maundy Thursday and brought before the high priest, Peter was asked three times by people gathered in the courtyard of the high priest whether he was with this man named Jesus. Each time, Peter reacted quickly, saying, “I do not know the man.” After the third instance of Peter’s denial, the rooster crows, and he weeps bitterly. (Matthew 26:74-75)

This bitter weeping of Peter now reveals a genuine confession of his sin – the sin of denying that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world.

So, again, reflect and ponder: Do you confess Jesus with the words that fill your conversations or through your actions with one another? Or are you quick to respond with words that hurt others or with actions driven by a vengeful heart?

Why are your words and actions so important?

As we see with Peter, they either confess Jesus or deny Him.

This morning, Ezra was asked in the Rite of Confirmation,

“Do you intend to live according to the Word of God, and in faith, word, and deed to remain true to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, even to death?

His answer was, “I do by the grace of God.”

What an incredible, comforting, and bold response to the question, “I do by the grace of God.”

A response that confesses that one cannot truly believe and make the great confession of Jesus Christ on their own without God's help, the forgiveness won through Christ, and the Holy Spirit that enlivens faith and sustains us in the one true Church. This response reveals a heart that trusts in God for salvation.

Yet, like Peter, we do falter and stumble in confessing Jesus as we should. Your words and actions may struggle even before you reach the door of your vehicle to drive home this morning. 

But when this happens, follow the bitter tears of your heart to sincerely confess your sins as if your life depends on it, because in confessing your sin and need for forgiveness, you are also confessing Christ and the grace and mercy He has for you and all who will believe in Him.

And you know what? When you confess your sins and your need for Jesus and His forgiveness, you are as bold as St. Peter and St. Paul, demonstrating a faith that’s even willing to suffer death.

In fact, as St. Paul wrote to the Romans, you already have died, so remember these words with Ezra, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)

What comforting and reassuring words to hear today.

So, go ahead and walk past the font today, dip your finger in it, make the sign of the cross, and remember that you have been marked by Christ the crucified; you are a child of God.

Then go forth and walk in the new life you’ve been given today, boldly confessing Jesus in your thoughts, words, and deeds.

+INJ+