This Sunday we celebrate the feast of Saints Peter and Paul who are two of the most important figures in the history of the Church. They were leaders who spread the message of Jesus and helped build the early Christian community. Both are remembered as apostles who gave their lives for their faith. 

The Church celebrates these two great saints together because of their deep connection in spreading the Gospel. Both Peter and Paul had very important tasks in the early Church: Peter maintaining the unity in the Church which during his lifetime had already spread throughout the Middle East and Europe, and Paul who taught the Jewish people that Jesus is the fulfillment of their Old Testament hopes and taught the Gentiles that Jesus is the Savior.

As we look at the personalities of Peter and Paul, we see that God called them to use their personalities and gifts to spread the Gospel — Peter to use his impetuous love to look after the flock, and Paul to use his training as a Pharisee and his strength of character to ensure that the non-Jewish people would be welcomed into the Church. It is a reminder to us that our talents and our weaknesses can become God’s means of helping others, if we open ourselves to God’ call. We don’t have to be perfect for God to work through us. God can work through us, faults and all, as he did with Peter and Paul.

What personal gifts or talents can you offer to others?

What weaknesses need some personal conversion?