A New Way of Being Brothers
Simone Riva - Peter and Paul: two different lives and two opposite characters, yet united by a decisive "yes" in response to Christ's question—the question of our lives.
Today, we celebrate the two pillars of Christian witness who found martyrdom in Rome around 67 A.D. The story of these two men is a curious one, which can only be explained by their friendship with Christ.
Peter, more knowledgeable about nets, fish, and boats than ancient prophecies, one day found himself staring into the eyes of the Master. Jesus, starting from what Peter did best, challenged him: "He got into a boat that belonged to Simon and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch'" (Luke 5:3–4).
Who knows what triggered something in the stubborn and reactive heart of that rough fisherman, but he accepted the challenge and discovered for himself the usefulness of a character like his. Thus came the turning point in his life: "Jesus said to Simon, 'Don't be afraid; from now on you will be fishing for men.' They brought their boats to shore, left everything, and followed him" (Luke 5:10–11).
He had received no guarantee as to where that "yes" would lead him, but what had happened before his eyes was enough to give him the certainty that his encounter with that man would have something to do with his destiny, even if the day of his great denial would come.
Paul, on the other hand, was the classic intellectual, more accustomed to bending reality to his reasoning than to letting himself be amazed by it. He attended the best schools and became a disciple of the best teacher, as he recounted in Jerusalem: "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but educated in this city, trained at the school of Gamaliel in the strict observance of the Law of our fathers, full of zeal for God, as you all are today" (Acts 22:3).
He had everything clear in his mind: who his friends and enemies were, the rules of behavior and the laws, the methods to be used in fighting opponents, and how to navigate the places that mattered. It was all so clear and obvious that it soon turned into violence against those who proclaimed another way: "I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify" (Acts 22:4).
However, for both Peter and Paul, the day of the big question arrived: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" (John 21:15); "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" (Acts 9:4).
They became children again before that Galilean who did not let go of that "me" that forced both of them to come to terms with a presence. All their actions and intrigues, all their naivety and cunning, all their awkwardness and exuberance had to give way to silence. Suddenly, they had no more effective strategies. Jesus had grasped the heart of the matter, as if he had asked, "But who are you?" and returned to the two apostles their hearts.
The whole life of Peter and Paul thus reveals a new way of being brothers—not because of flesh and blood, but because of the preference of the Father.
We discover, as Pope Francis said on June 29, 2019, that "The starting point of the Christian life is not being worthy; the Lord could do very little with those who thought they were good. When we consider ourselves better than others, it is the beginning of the end. The Lord does not work wonders with those who believe themselves to be righteous, but with those who know they are in need. He is not attracted by our goodness; that is not why he loves us. He loves us as we are and seeks people who are not self-sufficient, but who are willing to open their hearts to him."
