By Msgr. Joseph Prior • Posted June 26, 2025

(See the readings for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles)

“You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” Peter answers Jesus. Jesus had first asked the disciples: “Who do the people say that the Son of Man is?” The responses basically came that he was a prophet. Jesus then asks the disciples: “But who do you say that I am?”

It is to this question that Peter alone responds. Peter gives the most appropriate answer. He identifies Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus recognizes the Father at work in Peter and says: “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

The words of this profession of faith are emblazoned in six-foot-tall letters around the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome in Latin: “Tu es Petras… .” That church is built upon the tomb of St. Peter, who had been martyred in a circus nearby during the persecution of Nero.

The magnificent image of the largest church in the world built over the resting place of Peter symbolically captures the significance of his profession of faith — a profession in word and in deed — and Jesus’ response.

After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus and the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Peter took those final words of Jesus — “Go out to all the nations” — and he went. He took the Good News and proclaimed the Gospel, eventually reaching Rome.

The life that Christ won for all humanity is proclaimed and everyone Peter encounters is offered an invitation to faith. His own faith witnessed all along to the love of God poured out in Christ Jesus. Peter’s personal witness in imitation of Christ would eventually lead him to lay down his life, like Jesus, on a cross.

If one were to travel down the Tiber River from St. Peter Basilica’s, one would find another major basilica, this one dedicated to St. Paul. The massive church is called “St. Paul’s Outside the Walls” (the walls referring to Rome’s old city walls). This church is built over the tomb of St. Paul who was martyred nearby by beheading, as he was a Roman citizen.

The second reading for the Sunday’s Mass comes from 2 Timothy. The passage gives voice to Paul, writing as he nears the end of his life. He says: “I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.”

He, like Peter, had gone forth from Jerusalem but his story is different than that of Peter. Paul had never known Jesus during the public ministry. He comes late on the scene, after Jesus had died, rose from the dead and ascended to the Father. The first mention of Paul in the Scriptures was when he was persecuting the Christians and participating in the martyrdom of Stephen.

Later, when the Lord appeared in a great and blinding light to Paul, Jesus said: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” The encounter with the Risen Christ changed Paul’s life. Eventually he was baptized and spent much time in prayer, study and reflection in the Church before becoming a great evangelizer and missionary. Though not present at the ascension, he heard the great commission (“Go out to all the nations…”) through the Church and he took these words to heart.

The Acts of the Apostles along with some passages in the letters speak of Paul’s great missionary efforts. Now as the end is nearing Paul reflects on this as well as the sufferings he endured in his efforts. As he “finishes the race,” he once again points to the source of his witness and its strength – Jesus the Christ. He writes: “The Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it.”

This Sunday marks the celebration of Saints Peter and Paul. We celebrate the great witness of faith that these two apostles have given to the Church. Peter and Paul, two men from ordinary yet different backgrounds, went on to do extraordinary things empowered by Christ Jesus. One was a fisherman, the other a tent maker; one denied the Lord, the other persecuted him; one was impetuous, the other cantankerous yet God chose these men and despite their limitations, sinfulness, and imperfections gave them the ability to do great things.

Finding their strength in him whom they served, they gave extraordinary witness to the faith and many, many people came to share in divine life through their invitation and ministry. In many and real ways, we too though many generations apart, share in this life through their witness.

The great basilicas of St. Peter and of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls are beautiful and great edifices to mark the resting place of these two great saints. The buildings help remind us of the two simple yet remarkable men who came to faith in Christ Jesus. Their faith started small yet grew as they came to know him more and more. His presence in their lives shines forth even in death.

As we remember these two apostles, we are reminded that the same Christ Jesus who called them to faith, inspired them, filled them with life and sent them forth to proclaim, is Christ Jesus who calls us to do the same.

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Msgr. Joseph Prior is pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish, Penndel, and a former professor of Sacred Scripture and rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.