St. Peter and St. Paul- 29 June- Matthew 16:13-19

 On many calendars, June 29 is listed as the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul. In their theologies, Lutherans and other heirs of the Reformation have often emphasized Paul and overlooked Peter. In the context of historical theology, this tendency is understandable. However, in this post, the emphasis is on St. Peter.

The Apostle Peter is a significant figure in Christian history and a fascinating personality. Much has been said and written about him over the centuries, often in the course of theological and jurisdictional disputes between the church of Rome and other parts of the Church. Although this post will not discuss all the issues, a key passage is the Gospel from St. Matthew 16: 13-19. Here, Simon Peter confesses his faith that Jesus is the Christ and Son of God. Because of this faith, our Lord calls Peter the rock of the Church, the new community of faith. Yet, despite his important confession, Peter is not infallible, even in matters of faith. Within a few verses of his confession of faith, Matthew notes that Peter resists Christ's teachings about the way of the cross and serves the cause of Satan.

So we respect St. Peter. We honor his faith, his leadership, his service, his courage (most of the time), and his eventual martyrdom. However, we do not think Peter, Paul, or any other mere human being can be personally infallible, even for a brief time. May we  receive the grace to avoid Peter's errors and may we receive and accept the grace to follow Peter's faith and its fruits!