Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Apostles

The Collect
Almighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you by their martyrdom: Grant that your Church, instructed by their teaching and example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Psalm
87

The Readings
Ezekiel 34:11-16     +     2 Timothy 4:1-8     +     John 21:15-19

I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.

~Ezekiel 34:15-16

He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

~John 21:17


Here are two reflections for today's feast, one ancient and one new.

From St. Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 295:

This day has been made holy by the martyrdom of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul. I am not here speaking of some unknown martyrs. 'For their sound has gone out into all lands, and their message to the ends of the earth.' These martyrs say what they proclaimed . . . 

The Lord Jesus before his passion chose, as you know, certain disciples whom he called apostles. In a virtually unique way Peter represented the entire Church. In his capacity as representative of the whole Church these words were fittingly addressed to him: 'I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.' It was not one man, but the whole Church, which received these keys . . .

It was logical too for the Lord to entrust the care of his sheep to Peter after his resurrection. He was not, of course, the only disciple worthy of this responsibility. When Christ spoke to one, all were included: Peter was addressed first because he was the foremost apostle. Do not be dismayed, Peter. Answer once, twice, three times . . . Untie from love what you tied from fear. In spite of all the Lord three times entrusted his sheep to Peter.

One day is assigned for the celebration of the martyrdom of two apostles. But those two were one . . . Peter went first, Paul followed. We celebrate the feast day which is made sacred for us by the blood of these apostles. Let us love their faith, their life, their trials, their passion, their profession, and their teaching.

And here a reflection from the Grow Christians blog, on how Peter and Paul ultimately agreeing on the critical question of Gentile inclusion in the early church might inform our own thinking on racism in the church and society: Peter and Paul: Black Lives and Gentile Lives.

Closing Prayer
Everliving God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
~A prayer For the Mission of the Church, BCP p. 816

The Embrace of Peter and Paul 

Icon by Konstantinos Paleokapas in the Karakallou Monastery on Mount Athos