There is so much that could be said about Sts. Peter and Paul…and as you well know, most of what we know -comes from the realm of “tradition.”
What little Biblical evidence we do have is very insightful and helpful…but there was so much more – that people wanted to know. Tradition seemed to fill in some of the blanks for them, and to answer some of their questions.
They really were two very distinct kind of characters and personalities (you know) …one could even say at some points they were at polar opposites.
They were actually kind of like water and oil, so it is interesting that two of them were given one date to share in common together. I am not too sure that Peter and Paul would agree with this!
No one is even sure if they died on this day. Or if this was the day that their relics may have been transported and moved to differing locations…
Whatever, June 29th is the date that has been assigned to them on the churches liturgical calendar.
What is known is that during their life time – one would not necessarily refer to them as “saints.” Far from it…
Both are well known for “the error of their ways.”
Peter was constantly known for sticking his feet into his mouth.
Paul was known as being a blow heart and a braggart.
Peter was called the “Apostle to the Apostles” while Paul was referred to as the “Apostle to the Gentiles.”
While Peter was not only “a disciple” and “sent out” by Jesus himself as an apostle, as far as we know, Paul never even seen or heard the earthly Jesus.
Until the day of his death, Paul’s apostleship was always called into question.
After all, Paul was the chief persecutor of the early Christian community.
But both of them changed their
minds…both of them did some pretty serious back-peddling, as if; they were in the middle of a serious political campaign.
Both of them actually “denied Jesus.”
Both of them had huge leadership roles in the life of the early Christian community.
Peter was trusted, Paul, not so much.
Peter was said to be illiterate and Paul was copious in his writing skills.
Peter was said to be a convincing spokesman, while Paul could drone on and on…seemingly forever.
Peter had the trust of Jewish Christians while Paul had the trust of Gentile Christians…
But then, Paul also said, he could be all things to all peoples. Hmm…
The Gentiles did not trust Peter and the Jewish Christians did not trust Paul.
Both were considered “sinners” and “not saints”…during their actual life-times…
While Paul took off and established churches like the openings of still another Walgreens, (at the corner of Happy and Healthy) Peter and James pretty much ran the fledgling church in Jerusalem by themselves.
Peter was a “by-the-book-kind-of-guy,” while Paul was more of a “lets-be-flexible-kind-of-guy.”
As far as we know, neither one of them established the church in Rome, it was already present and alive and doing quite well before they both made it there.
And yet, it seems that both of them were martyred there. Both under Nero, both following the burning of Rome which Nero blamed on the early Christian community…as a scapegoat…
Tradition tells us one was crucified upside down per a personal request, while the other one was beheaded.
Both preached continuously in Rome until the times of their deaths…but as far as we know, they never spoke together or on the same stage…and maybe not even to each other…
Oil and water…I tell you…
Miracles and healings were attributed to both of them…and in the end, they both pointed beyond themselves to their crucified and risen Lord of the church.
Both men willingly died for their faith and perhaps that is the greatest reason that they are remembered today.
They denied, but they turned their thinking around…and came to be two of the greatest early Christian martyrs in the life of the early church.
They would have been strange bed fellows in life, and just as strange in death. May their memory always be a blessing for the church in every age.