Biblical names:
New Testament – Peter and Paul – likely to come up!
Peter: Simon, or Cephas – renamed Peter: before Peter was a name
Peter: rock. Foundation.
Given keys to the kingdom.
First pope of Rome; setting of the Holy See (symbol still stylized keys)
Paul: Saul (Hebrew) – renamed as conversion – shows movement – Paul (latin) – meaning small
writer of epistles – 14 of the 27 books of NT attributed (7 for sure; others debated)
Paul's epistles continue to be vital roots of the theology, worship and pastoral life
3 missionary journeys, starting Christian communities and spreading the Gospel
HIGH PRAISE!
Well known!
Good models!!
Modelship: follow example
YES: Because while they DID spread the Gospel, they were also VERY human.
Peter:
Often fumbled through so many things. He questioned, he doubted, he denied Christ three times at the crucifixion. He responded back at the “do you love me” with the best he had – but not the unconditional agape that Jesus asked.
Peter:
Strong of heart
Doing his best.
Paul:
Persecutor! To defender.
Emerging theological ideas as he grew and travelled; writing to communities trying to clarify what he himself had taught them
Paul:
Strong of heart
Doing his best.
Both trying to be as faithful as they can – at times crossing paths – at times not agreeing on
But always committed to preaching faithfully. To living the truth. To promoting the Gospel – the Good News of God in Christ.
It’s no wonder our second reading – which scholars attribute not to Paul but to someone a century or more later who wanted to follow Paul’s modeling – described the importance of Gospel this way:
“proclaim the message, press it home in season and out of season, use argument, reproof, and appeal, with all the patience that teaching requires.”
We are invited into that ministry.
Modeling with our lives, that we are living lives of faith.
Proclaiming the message: with strong hearts, and doing our best.
We don’t need to be the Peters and Pauls of this age to be the preachers and proclaimers of this age.
We don’t need to be perfect or idealised to share the good news… goodness knows Peter and Paul – for all the wonderful work they did – were NOT perfect.
Recalling their humanity can help liberate us to do our part, faithfully:
Remembering who it was that first shared the Gospel with us: Sunday school teachers, friends, family members, whomever.
Recalling who it IS that still shares the Gospel with us now: colleagues, people we volunteer with, neighbours, whomever.
And celebrating who we might share the Gospel with afresh: the world is waiting for good news.
And we are equipped to share it. God has provided us this grace and this opportunity.
May God bless us all, as we embrace with confidence, our commitment to share God’s Good News.
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