The Martyrdom Of Saints Peter and Paul

 Reflection on Today's Readings, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Tuesday 29th June, 2021
Texts: Acts 12: 1- 11; Ps. 34:2-9; 2 Tim. 4:6-8, 17- 18; Mtt. 16:13-19
Today's celebration commemorates the martyrdom of saints Peter and Paul. Tradition holds that they were martyred during the persecution of emperor Nero in 64 AD. Peter was crucified upside down while Paul was beheaded with sword. The celebration reminds us that our faith requires the total giving of self to God; we are to give ourselves to God without reservation. The fear of death should not make us deny Jesus Christ. A genuine faith conquers the fear of death.
We see in saints Peter and Paul what it means to lay down one's life for God. Laying down one's life for God requires enduring every kind of odds for Him; it means working for God not minding what it takes; it is the willingness to give what it takes to serve God. In the first reading Peter endured imprisonment for the sake of the gospel. The reading shows that he proclaimed the gospel in the face of death; he did not submit to the fear of death. The same thing also happened in the second reading; Paul is shown as a man who preached the gospel without submitting to the odds of life or fear of death; he preached the gospel against all odds. In the second reading, he says, _"I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."_ By their lives, Peter and Paul remind us that there were passion and death before resurrection, sacrifice before blessings, work before reward.
The second reading also reminds us that our hope is never in vain. St. Paul says, _"From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing."_ There is reward for life of righteousness. This encourages us to live the life of righteousness. The life of righteousness is not in vain or a waste. We should all inspire to live righteously.
Both the first and second readings show that God cares for those who serve Him. In the first reading God sent His angels to deliver Peter from prison. In the second reading, Paul says, _"But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength to proclaim the word fully, that all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil and save me for his heavenly kingdom."_ God loves His faithful and works for their good. When we work for God, we will experience the joy of serving God. There is always joy in serving.
The gospel reading calls us to seek the knowledge of Jesus Christ. We are to deepen our knowledge of Jesus Christ all the time. The most important thing we must know about Jesus Christ is that He is the Son of the living God. The Church is built on the faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The profession was made by Peter. He says, _"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”_  Jesus Christ gave him the keys to the kingdom of heaven for professing Him as the Son of God. The gospel reading encourages us to continue in our faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Lord our God, help us Your people to serve You against all odds and be faithful till death. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke