ST. PETER AND ST. PAUL: THE KEY AND THE SWORD.
June 29, 2021
Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles.
A Swahili proverb says: “Every door with its own key.” And a
Bosnian proverb adds: “During the battle, you cannot lend your sword to
anyone.”
Every strong edifice is erected on a strong foundation.
Nothing that does not have a good foundation can stand firm in times of
adversity and opposed winds. If the Church of Jesus Christ, the Holy Catholic
Church stands, despite the adversities, it is proof that it is erected on a
strong foundation, the apostolic faith.
St. Peter carries the key of authority, truth and faith and
St. Paul the Sword of the word and love. Peter and Paul are the principal
Pillars of the Church founded by Jesus. St. Peter was chosen by Christ to be
His Vicar on earth; he was endowed with the power of the keys of the Kingdom of
Heaven and given the role of Shepherd of Christ's flock. St. Paul was chosen to
form part of the College of Apostles by Christ himself after his dramatic
conversion on the road to Damascus. Selected to bring Christ's name to all
peoples, he was a great missionary, the advocate of pagans, and the
"Apostle of the Gentiles".
While celebrating these two Pillars of our Christian faith
and the Church, what calls our attention today is how the Church depicts them,
the first, Peter, with the keys, and the second, Paul, with a sword. The keys
and the sword, what for and what does it mean for us today?
These two elements say a lot about the two Apostles.
Referring to the keys of Peter, it might sound simple and clear to relate to
it. In Matthew 16:19, Jesus gave him the keys to God's Kingdom. He is therefore
the key holder of the truth and forgiveness. But this says more about us. He is
entrusted with the task to open our minds and our hearts to the true knowledge
of the Lord and follow him. He is the guardian of our faith.
The sword of St. Paul refers first to the way he witnessed
Christ till his martyrdom. He was beheaded. But deep behind, the sword is also
a trait of his personality and his words, the zeal with which he was burning to
bring Christ to all people, including the Gentiles, and his fierce opposition
to the Jews. He had words that cut sharper than a sword.
Peter and Paul, two personalities completely opposed, but
one unique mission, to bring the truth of Jesus, the Gospel to all nations. One
taught mankind its creed, one guards the heavenly gate. One by the sword gave
the greatest witness to the truth of the Gospel, one by the cross achieved his
fate. But both, with pricely blood, led us to the knowledge of Jesus, to faith
in him, and salvation. In the process of their conversion, both, Peter and Paul
experienced the graciousness of God's love, his compassion, and forgiveness. In
that sense, they firmly stand as our ancestors in sin as well as in faith. They
gave us their most precious treasure, Jesus Christ.
While celebrating the holder of the keys and the holder of
the sword, the word of God opens us to their singular experiences of God's
closeness. Peter, in the first reading, is miraculously saved from the prison
and the hand of Herod. Paul, in the second reading, speaks to Timothy about the
crown that awaits him, the crown of righteousness. He sees his soon-coming
sacrifice as the culmination of his mission and the reward of his faith.
Through Peter and Paul, we learn that to follow Jesus means
to be always ready to sacrifice oneself, to suffer with him and for his name’s
sake. The Christian life is a journey in the fire. Crosses and swords will be
our ordinary lots on earth but in heaven, a greater reward awaits us. Jesus,
entrusting the keys of his kingdom to Peter, assures his followers of that
reward that awaits the righteous. Like Peter, let us have the courage to
confess him as "the Christ, the Son of the living God", and like
Paul, give him to all who do not know him yet.
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