Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

Icon depicting Peter and Paul

In this week's bilingual Scripture reflection, Fr. Joseph Ruan invites us to consider the exemplary faithfulness and perseverance of Saints Peter and Paul. Fr. Ruan's reflection is below, in Chinese and then in English:

Scripture Reflection in Chinese:

圣伯多禄及圣保禄宗徒节

今天普世教会隆重庆祝圣伯多禄及圣保禄两位宗徒。他们一位是渔夫，一位是法利塞人；一位跟随耶稣三年，一位曾迫害教会；一位受派牧养羊群，一位奉命向万民传扬福音。他们的个性不同、背景不同、恩宠不同、使命也不同，却走向同一个目标：为基督献出生命，为教会奠定基础。因此，今天教会把他们放在同一天庆祝，不仅纪念两位伟大的圣人，同时也让我们看到：天主不要求每一个人都一样，祂愿意藉着不同的人、不同的恩宠、不同的使命，共同完成同一个救恩计划，建立同一个基督的教会。

今天的福音一开始，耶稣来到斐理伯的凯撒勒雅，先问门徒：「人们说人子是谁？」（玛16:13）门徒回答了各种不同的意见：「有人说是洗者若翰；有人说是厄里亚；也有人说是耶肋米亚，或先知中的一位。」（玛16:14）这些答案都不错，却都是别人对耶稣的看法。于是耶稣进一步追问：「你们说我是谁？」（玛16:15）这是整部福音最重要的问题之一，也是每一位基督徒一生都必须回答的问题。因为信仰不能建立在别人怎么说，而必须建立在我们与耶稣真实的关系上。伯多禄代表所有宗徒回答：「你是默西亚，永生天主之子。」（玛16:16）这是玛窦福音最伟大的信仰宣言。耶稣立即称赞他说：「这不是血肉启示你的，而是我在天上的父。」（玛16:17）换句话说，真正的信德，不是人的推理，不是知识的累积，也不是一种宗教习惯，而是天主的恩宠，是天父亲自开启我们的心，使我们认识耶稣、相信耶稣，并愿意跟随耶稣。

紧接着，耶稣说出了一句影响整个教会历史的话：「你是伯多禄，在这磐石上，我要建立我的教会。」（玛16:18）这里有一句话值得我们特别留意，耶稣没有说：「建立你的教会」，也没有说：「建立人的教会」，而是说：「我的教会。」（玛16:18）教会属于基督，不属于任何一个人。教宗不是教会的主人，而是基督托付羊群的牧者；主教、神父、修女以及所有教友，都只是教会的服务者。正因为教会属于基督，所以两千年来，无论经历多少迫害、战争、分裂、异端或世俗主义的冲击，教会始终没有灭亡，因为真正保护教会的是基督自己。所以耶稣继续保证说：「阴间的门决不能战胜她。」（玛16:18）这并非保证教会不会受苦，而是保证教会永远不会失败，因为教会建立在基督这块永不动摇的磐石上。

今天第一篇读经，正好印证了耶稣这句话。黑落德为了讨好犹太人，先杀了雅各伯宗徒，又把伯多禄关进监狱。圣经特别描写当时的情景：伯多禄被两条铁链锁住，两旁各有士兵看守，门外还有卫兵把守，在人的眼中已经毫无希望，第二天就可能被处死。然而，《宗徒大事录》特别记下一句话：「教会却恳切为他向天主祈祷。」（宗12:5）就在黑落德准备提审他的前一夜，天主派遣天使来到监狱，锁链脱落，铁门自动打开，伯多禄平安地走了出来。当他恢复清醒时，说：「现在我确实知道，主派了他的天使来救我。」（宗12:11）伯多禄能够获救，不单是天使显现，也因为整个教会同心祈祷。这告诉我们，教会真正的力量，不在武力，不在财富，也不在权势，而是在祈祷，在天主的恩宠。今天世界许多地方，教会仍然面对战争、暴力、世俗主义、冷漠和迫害，有些地方不能自由传扬福音，有些地方神父修女受到限制，也有不少教友因为信仰而受苦。然而，只要教会继续祈祷，继续忠于基督，上主仍会在祂的时候，开启那一道在人看来无法打开的「铁门」。

第二篇读经让我们看到另一位伟大的宗徒——圣保禄。他写这封信时，已经知道自己离世的时候到了，因此留下了一段极其感人的临终遗言：「这场好仗，我已打完；这场赛跑，我已跑到终点；这信仰，我已保持了。」（弟后4:7）这是一个即将结束生命的人，对自己一生最真实的总结。他没说自己建立了多少教会，没说自己写了多少书信，没说自己赢得多少荣耀，更没说自己拥有多少财富。他只说了三件事：好仗打完了，赛跑跑完了，信仰守住了。这就是基督徒一生最大的成功。今天这个世界习惯用财富、地位、名声和权力来衡量一个人的价值，但天主衡量我们的标准只有一个，就是有没有忠于祂。保禄一生经历鞭打、监禁、沉船、饥饿、误解和迫害，却始终没有放弃福音；最后在罗马为主斩首殉道。伯多禄则谦卑地请求倒钉十字架，因为他认为自己不配像师傅一样受死。在世人的眼中，他们似乎失败了；但在天主眼中，他们却赢得了「正义的冠冕」。（弟后4:8）他们的一生告诉我们，真正的成功，其实并非活得多么辉煌，而是忠于基督直到最后一刻。

今天教会把伯多禄和保禄放在同一天庆祝，还有一个很深的意义。伯多禄代表教会的合一，保禄代表教会的福传。伯多禄使教会保持同一个信仰，同一个牧者，同一个团体；保禄把福音从耶路撒冷带到小亚细亚、希腊，最后一直传到罗马，使救恩临于万民。教会若只有合一，却没有福传，就会失去生命力；教会若只有福传，没有合一，就容易四分五裂。因此，教会既需要伯多禄，也需要保禄；既要坚守纯正的信仰，也要勇敢向世界宣讲福音。这也是今天教会不断提醒我们的使命。

事实上，每一位基督徒都有自己的圣召。有人像伯多禄一样，默默牧养家庭，忠诚守护信仰；有人像保禄一样，积极传扬福音，勇敢见证基督。有人善于祈祷，有人善于服务；有人善于教导，有人善于关怀；有人站在前面领导，有人在幕后默默奉献。恩宠可以不同，使命可以不同，工作方式也可以不同，但目标永远只有一个，就是光荣天主，建立教会。

最后，让我们再次回到耶稣提出的那个问题：「你们说我是谁？」（玛16:15）这是两千年前耶稣向宗徒提出的问题，也是今天祂向我们每一个人提出的问题。如果耶稣只是历史人物，我们不会坚持信仰；如果祂只是伟大的道德导师，我们也不会愿意背起十字架跟随祂。只有当我们真正相信祂是「默西亚，永生天主之子」（玛16:16），我们的生命才会真正改变，我们才能像伯多禄和保禄一样，无论顺境或逆境，都坚定跟随基督，直到生命的最后一刻。

祈祷圣伯多禄帮助我们，拥有坚固如磐石的信德，始终与教会保持共融；祈愿圣保禄帮助我们，燃起传扬福音的热火，勇敢在生活中见证基督。但愿我们有一天也能够像圣保禄一样，在人生终点满怀平安地说：「这场好仗，我已打完；这场赛跑，我已跑到终点；这信仰，我已保持了。」（弟后4:7）到那一天，我们也将与圣伯多禄、圣保禄一起，同享天主早已为忠信的人所预备的光荣冠冕。

Scripture Reflection in English:

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

Today the universal Church joyfully celebrates the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, the two great pillars of the Church. One was a fisherman, the other a Pharisee. One followed Jesus throughout His public ministry; the other once persecuted the Church. One was entrusted with shepherding Christ’s flock; the other was sent to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles. Their personalities, backgrounds, gifts, and missions were very different, yet they shared the same goal: to give their lives for Christ and to lay the foundation of His Church. Today we celebrate not only two great saints, but also the wonderful way God accomplishes one plan of salvation through different people, different gifts, and different vocations.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus first asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Mt 16:13) They answered with many different opinions: “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” (Mt 16:14) These answers were not entirely wrong, but they reflected only what other people thought about Jesus. Then Jesus asked the most important question of all: “But who do you say that I am?” (Mt 16:15)

This question is not only for Peter and the Apostles. It is a question that every Christian must answer personally. Our faith cannot be based merely on what others believe, what our parents taught us, or what we learned in religion classes. Faith becomes real only when we personally encounter Christ and recognize who He truly is.

Speaking on behalf of all the Apostles, Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Mt 16:16) This is one of the greatest professions of faith in the entire New Testament. Jesus immediately replied, “Blessed are you… For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.” (Mt 16:17) True faith is not simply the result of human intelligence, philosophical reasoning, or accumulated knowledge. It is first of all a gift of God’s grace. Before we seek God, God has already sought us. Before we come to know Christ, the Father has already opened our hearts to believe in Him.

Jesus then made a promise that would shape the entire history of the Church: “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.” (Mt 16:18) Notice that Jesus did not say “your Church,” but “my Church.” The Church belongs to Christ. It does not belong to any pope, bishop, priest, or individual Christian. The Pope is not the owner of the Church but the shepherd entrusted by Christ to care for His flock. Bishops, priests, religious, and all the faithful are servants of the Church. Because the Church belongs to Christ, she has survived persecutions, wars, divisions, scandals, and countless trials throughout two thousand years of history. Christ also assures us, “The gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” (Mt 16:18) This does not mean that the Church will never suffer; it means that she will never be defeated because Christ Himself remains her foundation.

The first reading beautifully illustrates this promise. King Herod imprisoned Peter, placing him under heavy guard and preparing to execute him. Humanly speaking, there was no hope. Peter was chained between soldiers, guarded by multiple squads, and locked behind iron gates. Yet the Acts of the Apostles tells us, “Prayer by the Church was fervently being made to God on his behalf.” (Acts 12:5) During the night, the Lord sent an angel. Peter’s chains fell away, the prison gates opened, and he was set free. When Peter finally realized what had happened, he declared, “Now I know for certain that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me.” (Acts 12:11)

The greatest strength of the Church has never been political influence, military power, or material wealth. Her true strength has always been prayer and the grace of God. Even today, many Christians around the world continue to experience persecution, restrictions, indifference, and suffering. Yet the same Lord who opened the prison gates for Peter continues to open doors that seem impossible to us. Whenever the Church remains faithful in prayer and trust, God continues to work in ways beyond human expectations.

The second reading presents the final testimony of Saint Paul. Knowing that his earthly life was coming to an end, he wrote these moving words: “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim 4:7) These are not the words of a man boasting about his achievements, but of a faithful servant reviewing his life before God. Paul did not speak about how many churches he founded, how many letters he wrote, or how many places he visited. Instead, he rejoiced that he had remained faithful to Christ until the end.

Our world usually measures success by wealth, status, influence, or popularity. God measures success differently. He asks only one question: Have we remained faithful? Paul endured beatings, imprisonment, shipwrecks, hunger, misunderstandings, and persecution, yet he never abandoned the Gospel. Peter, although he once denied Jesus three times, allowed God’s mercy to transform him into a courageous shepherd who ultimately gave his life for Christ. In the eyes of the world, both seemed to have failed. Yet in God’s eyes they received “the crown of righteousness.” (2 Tim 4:8) Their lives remind us that true success is not measured by earthly achievements but by faithful perseverance.

There is another beautiful lesson in celebrating Peter and Paul together. Peter represents the unity of the Church, while Paul represents the missionary spirit of the Church. Peter safeguarded the unity of faith; Paul carried the Gospel to the nations. A Church without unity becomes divided. A Church without missionary zeal loses its vitality. Christ desires both: unity in faith and courage in evangelization.

The same is true for each one of us. God gives different gifts and different vocations to different people. Some are called to be like Peter, faithfully caring for their families and strengthening the faith of others. Some are called to be like Paul, boldly proclaiming Christ wherever they go. Some lead; others serve quietly behind the scenes. Some teach; others console; some pray; others work tirelessly in charity. God does not ask us all to be Peter or Paul. He asks each of us to be faithful to the vocation He has given us.

Finally, let us return to the question Jesus asks every disciple: “But who do you say that I am?” (Mt 16:15) If Jesus is only a historical figure, we will not remain faithful when difficulties come. If He is merely a great moral teacher, we will not take up our cross to follow Him. Only when we truly believe that He is “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16) will our lives be transformed. Then, like Peter and Paul, we will remain faithful in times of joy and in times of suffering, trusting Christ until the very end.

May Saint Peter obtain for us a faith as firm as the rock upon which Christ built His Church. May Saint Paul obtain for us the zeal to proclaim the Gospel with courage and love. And may each of us one day be able to say with confidence, “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim 4:7) Then we, too, will share with Saints Peter and Paul the eternal crown prepared by the Lord for all who remain faithful.

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Fr. (Joseph) Guozhang Ruan was born and ordained in China. After serving in parish ministry in the Diocese of Mindong, Fujian, he pursued advanced studies in moral theology in Rome, earning a doctorate from the Pontifical Lateran University. Since coming to the United States in 2004, he has served in several parishes in the Archdiocese of New York. He is currently the Director of the Chinese Apostolate for the Archdiocese of New York and Parochial Vicar of Holy Rosary Church on Staten Island. His ministry focuses on serving Chinese Catholics, promoting evangelization, and fostering greater understanding between the Church in China and the universal Church.

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