Sunday 29 June 2008

The Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul








Listen, if these two can hit the big time, there's hope for us all.


Peter was quick-tempered, hot-headed and often got things wrong. He went back on his word in the worst possible way, telling Jesus he would always stand by him, and yet at the first sign of trouble, he ran, terrified, and denied all knowledge of him.


And Paul, or Saul, as he was in the beginning, well, he was the Godfather of the persecutors of Christians. His name struck terror in Christian hearts. He was present at the stoning of Stephen, the first martyr, 'and Saul approved of their killing him'.
Acts 8:1


And yet God, who doesn't judge by human standards, saw something in both of them that we certainly wouldn't have seen. He said:


'You are Peter (which means rock) and on this rock I will build my church. And the gates of the Underworld will never hold out against it'
Mt. 16:18


And after he'd sorted Saul out by throwing him off his horse and blinding him for a few days, God chose him to take the Gospel beyond the Jews - 'he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles'.
Acts 9:15


And pretty good at it he turned out to be as well.


So, if you're like me, and think that most of the time you're getting it wrong, look at Peter and Paul. I suppose Paul sums it up here:


'For all of you are the children of God through faith, in Christ Jesus, since every one of you that has been baptised has been clothed in Christ....And simply by being Christ's, you are the progeny of Abraham, the heirs named in the promise'
Gal. 3:26-29


I think I could get used to this preaching business!

17 comments:

Mulier Fortis said...

I think I could get used to this preaching business!

You could indeed... except that there's no horse!

The Woman who Can said...

Sometimes we're our own worst critics, and we forget that it's not always our place to judge.

Very thoughtfully put.

Can Bass 1 said...

Ah, Matthew 16. We did two different settings of this passage today (in latin, of course) - Palestrina first, then Durufle. Do you know either of them?

Amrita said...

Very true whqt you say about both the apostles.

Akelamalu said...

A thought provoking post MOTL.

Gone Back South said...

You are cordially invited to stop by and collect your AWARD!

gigi said...

HI, I've been a lurker for a long time, but I wanted to say that this post was very beautifully written. Thanks. God Bless!

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

Definitely thought provoking.

Beth Cotell said...

It's so hard to trust God and allow Him to use us as He wants. It's so easy to get caught up in the reasons we would not make good disciples instead of trusting God to help us.

I think you'd make a great preacher!

Renae said...

Jackie, my pastor is going on vacation for a week in September. D'ya think you could fill in for him?

;-)

Except, I think I'll be gone that week, as well . . .

--r

RiverPoet said...

Isn't that the truth? If guys like that can turn into God's heroes, then there is hope for all of us.

Peace - D

Natalie said...

i guess there is hope for me!

great post!

Anonymous said...

Two of the characters in Scripture that most fascinate me are Jacob and Peter. In part, it is because they do give one hope. There is just no explaining "why" with either of them - so instead we are forced to look at God instead. People like Jacob and Peter serve to make God look all the bigger, don't you think? It's a restful thought, that.

Ttony said...

"I think I could get used to this preaching business!"

So somebody who is a wife and the mother of that lot has come across a "new" skill: not just telling people what they have to do, but explaining why its in their best interest really.

You do it really, really, well: but I would submit that you've had decades of training.

scrappysue said...

just goes to show - most things are forgiveable

Working Mum said...

We had Matthew 16, my MIL was the reader. I sang in the service this morning helping out the church choir. I'll never trust a curate again! (see my post "All sung out")

Cath said...

They're great examples aren't they? How lives can be turned around if you let God do it. ;0)