Today’s first reading shows Peter being miraculously freed of his chains in the prison where he was being held captive by King Herod, who already had the blood of John the Baptist and the apostle James, the brother of John, on his hands, hoping that by killing the leaders, their followers would fall away and the fledgling faith would die out.

In the second reading, Saint Paul foreshadows his martyrdom for the faith but fearlessly and eloquently proclaims his instrumentality for the mission of preaching the gospel and his confidence in the eternal reward that awaits him. We know that Paul also experienced a miraculous physical deliverance from chains and imprisonment by his persecutors, during his journey of evangelisation of the gentiles. The striking similarity of the deliverance experiences of the two most significant concurrent leaders of the early Church is amazing. We see that, in both situations, fervent prayers and unflinching faith produced spectacular results, to further the divine plan of evangelisation. Faith is also the theme of today’s Gospel proclamation. Our Lord Jesus Christ recognised that it was not the human faculties of learning, knowledge or understanding that led Peterto proclaim His divinity, but divine revelation, only able to be ‘downloaded’ by total faith and which led Jesus to anoint Saint Peter as his successor on earth.

It is instructive to reflect on the very different backgrounds and work of the two saints of today. On the one hand, Saint Paul, who travelled most of the then-known world extensively to preach to the Gentiles and, having studied at the feet of very highly respected Pharisee, Gamaliel, was eloquent in his preaching. On the other hand, Saint Peter’s message, born of his humble fisherman’s background, was simple, but incisive; and he preached largely to the Jews in Judaea. Despite their differing levels of education, approaches to preaching and their audiences, the results, born of their deep faith and fearless commitment, even unto martyrdom, were similar and stunning.

Prayer: Abba, Father, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts to deliver us from the bonds of earthly things, help us discern our mission and make us instruments of your will. Amen