June 29 - Saints Peter and Paul were two of the apostles. They cannot be compared, but they both had a communion of life in faith and were imprisoned for preaching the Gospel. Peter represented Christ in the leadership of the Church, while Paul was tireless in spreading the faith among the Greeks and Romans.
Both were actors, responsible for the growth and expansion of the Church, and both even lost their lives in witnessing to Christ. They lived in the first century and were martyred during the reign of Nero.
Saint Peter
When we speak of St. Peter, he was the son of a fisherman, and a fisherman himself. He was born in Bethsaida, from a modest family, he had no education. While he was fishing on Lake Tiberias, he heard Jesus call out to him, "Follow me, and I'll make you a fisherman of men." Of all the apostles, he was the most fervent in his faith and boldly declared in the gospel that Christ is the Son of God. (Mk 8, 27-30; Mt 16, 17). Peter never left the Lord, but was always present in the life of Christ, even before his death. In spite of his triple denial during Christ's passion, this was handed over to him and the Lord made him head of the apostles and the Church by declaring that Peter is the rock on which his Church will be built (Mt.16, 18- 19). When Herod Agrippa began to persecute the Christian Church in Jerusalem, he ordered that Jacob be killed with the sword and that Peter be arrested. This is the third time Peter is arrested, Paul encourages him. When Peter was condemned and crucified, he demanded that he be condemned upside down. Joy filled Peter's heart and made him say, "This is the tree of life, the tree that overcomes death and the salvation of the world; it is accomplished by the Son of the living God.
Saint Paul
When we speak of St. Peter, he was the son of a fisherman, and a fisherman himself. He was born in Bethsaida, from a modest family, he had no education. While he was fishing on Lake Tiberias, he heard Jesus call out to him, "Follow me, and I'll make you a fisherman of men." Of all the apostles, he was the most fervent in his faith and boldly declared in the gospel that Christ is the Son of God. (Mk 8, 27-30; Mt 16, 17). Peter never left the Lord, but was always present in the life of Christ, even before his death. In spite of his triple denial during Christ's passion, this was handed over to him and the Lord made him head of the apostles and the Church by declaring that Peter is the rock on which his Church will be built (Mt.16, 18- 19). When Herod Agrippa began to persecute the Christian Church in Jerusalem, he ordered that Jacob be killed with the sword and that Peter be arrested. This is the third time Peter is arrested, Paul encourages him. When Peter was condemned and crucified, he demanded that he be condemned upside down. Joy filled Peter's heart and made him say, "This is the tree of life, the tree that overcomes death and the salvation of the world; it is accomplished by the Son of the living God.
