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Dear Friends,
This Sunday the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul–two very different men united by one mission: to serve Christ and proclaim His Gospel. It is a time of year when many men and women will be ordained as deacons and priests in the Church of God here in our own diocese and elsewhere throughout the world. It is therefore an appropriate Sunday to think about our calling to minister as part of the Body of Christ.
In Acts 12:1–12, we see the apostle Peter imprisoned, facing death, yet miraculously freed by an angel. Despite fear and uncertainty, Peter obeys God’s call and continues his mission.
In Matthew 16:13–19, Peter boldly proclaims Jesus as ‘the Christ, the Son of the living God’. In response, Jesus names him the rock upon which the Church will be built, entrusting him with the keys to the kingdom. This is a foundational in the church which reminds us how Christ chooses ordinary people for extraordinary roles in his mission. Peter is not perfect—he will falter—but he is faithful, and that faithfulness is what Jesus calls forth.
Together, these readings (links below) speak to all Christians. We are all called to ministry—not necessarily to ordained life, but to be witnesses of Christ in our families, communities, and workplaces. Like Peter, we may feel unworthy or afraid. Like Paul, we may have a past that seems incompatible with discipleship. Yet God sees beyond our weaknesses and invites us into His work.
The feast of these two apostles is not just a celebration of their lives, but a challenge to us. It is a reminder that God’s mission is ongoing and that each of us, baptised in Christ, is called to play a part. Ministry begins with faith, deepens with trust, and bears fruit in action. May we respond with courage and conviction, knowing that, like Peter and Paul, we do not walk alone.
Yours in Christ,
Ian
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