Feast of Chair of Saints Peter and Paul, November 18, 2006

Scripture: Acts 28:11-16.30-31. Psalm 98:1-6. Matthew 14:22-33.

Just an octave ago we celebrated the dedication of the Church of St. John Lateran. Today we celebrate the foundation churches dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul the two greatest apostles for the Church at Rome and the churches in the Near Middle East. A recent art exhibit here in Dayton honoring Rembrandt and his school featured paintings by the great Dutch painter which fit in nicely with this feast. The opening was a self-portrait which was Rembrandt's way of depicting Paul; the end was the betryal of Peter in the courtyard. Both paintings make one think of these two great saints and apostles; the feast does this in the light of our worship service in Rome which is symbolic of the Catholic faith. Both saints are central actors in the New Testament and are given more space than any other persons even the Mother of Jesus. The only exception, of course, is the focus that the New Testament has on Jesus himself. We are talking of the most important texts which are historical documents and firsthand witnesses to those surrounding Jesus. All the rest of Christian writings are not privileged to be primary sources.

In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Paul is being written about by an unknown companion in his last journey to Rome. It is a narrative similar to a travelogue at this point in Acts. Following the text and the place names given reads like a primitive "Mapquest." Even the name of the vessel coming to Italy is given as "Heavenly Twins." Rhegium, Puteoli, and then Rome are named and as we get closer and zoom in on where Paul is we learn of the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns! Paul is accompanied by a Roman soldier and is in house confinement till his trial which will bring him to his martyrdom. Paul is giving thanks to God for having arrived and he also stirs up more apostolic courage to preach the kingdom of God boldly and to teach about the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Matthew's selection we then focus on Peter who is in a boat on the Lake of Galilee. He is again a fisherman with his companions. I think in the later thinking about the passage we see that the boat represents symbolically the church. Peter sees that the person walking on the water is not a ghost but Jesus, and he musters up the courage to start walking on the water towards Jesus, but , oops! he sinks into the depths. Jesus reaches us and pulls him up and Peter gets back into the boat. This seems to be a good passage for those of us who may have fallen away from the Church. We need both Jesus, but it is not just a Jesus and I relationship, we need each other so we should be in the boat if we really want our prayers heard. "Lord, save me." And Jesus does. Only Jesus can walk on water without using any of the movie props. Like Peter, once we are in the boat, can say, "Beyond doubt, you, Jesus are the Son of God.

In a personal note, I was baptized on June 25th, 1934. The name of the Byzantine Catholic Church in Braddock, Pennsylvania is Saints Peter and Paul. I was born just seven days before that memorable event and since I am Byzantine by birth I was also confirmed on the same date as my baptism.