Sts Peter and Paul 29.6.08
We honour these men for who they were, as individuals, but also for what they symbolize.
There is a saying about what happens when an irresistible force meets immoveable object? If the two are opposed it is hard to say what will triumph. But what if the force and the object are on the same side, working together? What if someone or something could be both an irresistible force and an immoveable object?
The Catholic Church is just that. Of course, we have to call on the divine part of our identity for this to be true.
At the human level we can be like Peter on the night of the Last Supper, still largely talk, but not yet substance.
But reinforced by divine grace we are then like Peter after Pentecost, ready to suffer and die for Our Lord, rejoicing to suffer in His name.
So the Church – an immoveable object. Some would say stubborn. [I note that one group wants to arrest Pope Benedict when he comes to Australia for crimes against humanity... for not allowing condoms.]
The Church does not change its dogmas despite receiving plenty of advice that we should do that. But of course they are not ‘our’ dogmas in the sense that we did not make them up. They are from God Himself. Tell Him to change them!
So we are very confident in what God has revealed to us, and this is what gives us the appearance of being stubborn, when we are really just being loyal. As solid as a Rock, the rock of Peter.
At the human level there is much rebellion within the Church, but the remedy for that is not to change the doctrines, but to change hearts, till everyone can bow before the greater wisdom of God.
So we stand like a rock. But enter St Paul. It is from Paul that we learn the importance of being all things to all men.
Paul symbolises the Church's ability to reach into all cultures and all ages.
Christ is for the heart of every person, and so the Gospel is for every one.
Paul understood this and was an irresistible force as he proclaimed Christ risen.
For us the symbol of Paul is that we must be prepared to share our faith. We must be willing to make known to our neighbour the riches of Christ.
So we are not just a defensive fortress, in splendid isolation, but on the attack into the world, attacking with truth and love to uproot falsehood, and replace darkness with light.
We can do this without relaxing the truth itself. We are still rock-like but also like the wind in moving in all directions at once.
We need to be both Peter and Paul - rock-like, and all things to all men. In season and out, conveying word of life to all comers.
As individuals we have different gifts; we are made up differently. No one of us can do all that the Church needs to do.
No matter, if we each do what we are good at, others will do the bits we cannot. The Church will have its teachers and preachers, its missionaries, its footsoldiers – all united both in doctrine and zeal.
We need Peter to hold firm to the truth; we need Paul to make it known.
So the immoveable object is itself moving with irresistible force.
The Church will expand, drawing others in, without losing anything of what it already has.
Sts Peter and Paul pray for us!
