Sts. Peter & Paul: Listening to Each Other & the Holy Spirit

Today is the feast of Sts.Peter and Paul. Even though both apostles have their own feast days, today both are celebrated on this day. This dates back to 258, when under the Valerian persecution, what were believed to be the remains of the two apostles were both moved temporarily to prevent them from falling into the hands of the persecutors.

Peter and Paul agreed on the core of the faith; yet both had their disagreements, especially about the continuance of the Jewish laws and traditions with incoming Gentile Christians. In Galatians Paul writes: “When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, "Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions? … Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.” (Gal. 2:14, 16). After much prayer, listening to each other and the Holy Spirit, discussion and discernment, Paul’s views prevailed. Peter and Paul were able to sit down, listen to the other, and come to a decision. There has always been disagreement in the Church; however, sometimes the ability of people to listen,truly listen, to one another has been missing. Prayer and listening to the Holy Spirit is the key.

Let us pray: Almighty God,whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you by their martyrdom: Grant that your Church, instructed by their teaching and example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the HolySpirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550