Two Sinners and God's Mercy
Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Apostles
Acts 12:1-11; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; Matthew 16:13-19
Peter and Paul, two figures in whose lives God's mercy triumphed over the power of sin. Saint Peter represents all those who out of fear or different personal reasons deny their faith. Saint Paul stands for all those who in the name of religion threaten the lives of others.
The Gospel of Matthew has this severe warning against those who deny Jesus: "whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven" (Matt. 10:33). That is what Peter did. "[Peter] began to curse, and he swore with an oath, “I do not know this man you are talking about!" (Mark 14:71). When we turn to the letter of John, we read: "the one who hates his brother is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes" (1 John 2:11). Paul, despite all his Scriptural knowledge, was in darkness. Luke in such a way describes Paul's attitude towards other fellow Jews who believed in Jesus: "Saul, still breathing out threats to murder the Lord’s disciples" (Acts 9:1). Paul himself testifies that he persecuted those who believed in Jesus (1 Cor. 15:9, Phil. 3:6). It is truly amazing to see how God in His mercy changed them into the vehicles of His grace and gave them the courage to defend with their lives what they at first denied and tried to destroy.
Christian life tends to be divided into two stages: before and after meeting Christ. The story of Peter and Paul divides life differently: before and after realizing the power of sin in one's life. Peter, overcame by fear, denied the one he promised to stand by even if the others would leave Him. Paul, zealous for the religious tradition, was ready to see people being killed. When they realize their powerlessness and failure the old life ended and the new life was about to begin. Peter cried; Paul got blind. Both of them felt guilty. Both of them confessed their sin again and again. No gospel omits the story of Peter's denial, and Paul in his three letters confesses that he persecuted the Church (1 Cor. 15:9, Gal. 1:13; Phil. 3:6). Yet, God's mercy triumphed over the power of sin. Peter got the courage to stand for Jesus. Instead of persecuting Christians, Paul joined them and was himself persecuted for his faith in Jesus.
There is a lesson for all of us here. First of all, committing your life to Jesus does not guarantee that you will not deny Him. There are many Christians who in a moment of weakness denied their faith. Yet, it does not necessarily mean that all is lost. Our failure helps us to realize our need for God. It is only by His grace that we stand. "If the Lord does not build a house, then those who build it work in vain. If the Lord does not guard a city, then the watchman stands guard in vain" (Psalm 127:1). Jesus made it clear: "Without me, you can do nothing" (John 15:5). God's mercy will succeed where our power has failed. So never despair. Even if Satan himself quoted the Scriptures against you, do not listen. "Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more'' (Rom. 5:20). God's mercy revealed to us in Jesus' death is the most life-changing message the history of the world would ever have.
Second, let us be aware of religious indoctrination. It can brainwash us into believing that destroying, hurting, or harming others can be the measure of our faith. It is not. It only proves that we walk in darkness and thick blindness covers our eyes. Such a condition is extremely serious, but God's light can penetrate the darkness. "Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you" (Psalm 139:12). Jesus says: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).
Peter and Paul. Their story continues in the lives of contemporary believers in Christ. The Church is being built, out of living stones, adding brothers and sisters from different parts of the world, whom Jesus freed from the power of sin and brought into His wonderful light. Now, like Peter and Paul, they confess the same faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.