The Feast of Peter and Paul

One

The Missions of Peter and Paul

The Acts of the Apostles is about two men: Peter and Paul, with the first half dedicated primarily to Peter, and the second half dedicated primarily to Paul. Both gave their lives to evangelization. 

Since we carry the same obligation to spread the faith and build up the Church, it’s a good idea to consider how these two first great missionaries did it. 

We tend to think of evangelization as something for professionals. Well, at the time of Peter and Paul, there were no professions. Peter was a fisherman and Paul made tents. But Peter and Paul didn’t think of it that way.

They were constantly evangelizing, that was what they did because it was who they were.

They were Christians, saved and chosen by Christ. In a real sense, in their minds, there was nothing about them except that. For Peter and Paul, there was nothing for them to do, and nothing for them to talk about, except that which related to the Lord.

Now when your whole life, everything, is wrapped up in one thing, one idea, one person: how can you keep yourself from talking about it? How can the people around you not know about it?  

Two

So, what’s the first step to evangelization? 

Make your whole life about Jesus! Then you won’t be able to talk about anything without your faith coming into it, you’ll be constantly bringing up the Lord, because He’s part of everything you think and everything you do.

In other words, the first step to evangelization is to be a saint, like Peter and Paul were. The first step is to be a real Christian.

What is a real Christian? Someone who has made transforming union with Jesus the goal of their life. Someone who seeks union with Jesus through the Eucharist. Someone who has a real friendship with Jesus, someone who spends time with Jesus regularly, talking with him from the heart, listening to what He has to say in the Word of God, and just wasting time with Him. 

But a Christian is also someone who puts real effort into making sure that what they think and say and do and the way they use their free time are all things that will lead them closer to Jesus, rather than away.

Are we this type of person? Are we real Christians? Because that is the first step to evangelization, be a real Christian!

Three

The Mission to the Jews (and to Badly Formed Catholics)

Both Peter and Paul witnessed both the Jews and Gentiles throughout the Book of Acts. And, in a sense, there’s a double task of evangelization today as well.

The Jews represent those who mistakenly think they’re knowledgeable and living their faith. The Gentiles represent those completely outside the fold.

In the Acts of the Apostles, the greatest resistance came from those who were fellow Jews with the Apostles. They were content with what they had and they didn’t want somebody calling them to live their own faith more perfectly, more consistently, more radically.

So too, we live in a Church where countless people in our own churches identify themselves as faithful Catholics even though they never pray, they don’t know the Scriptures, they have very little reverence for the Sacraments, and they reject the moral and doctrinal teachings of the very Church they profess to be members of.

I was one of these kinds of people until I met a friend who had the courage to do three things.

He invited me to hang out and he got to know me better. At the time I was living a very immoral life, but then he offered me a book on the moral teachings of Jesus. I read it and was mad! Not mad at the teaching but mad that no one had ever told me.

The most impactful thing he did was share with me that Mary, the Mother of God was reported to be appearing in Medjugorje. That really got my attention. Because if the Mother of God is appearing, then she is real. If Mary is real, then Jesus is real, and then everything has to change in my life. And it did. That’s how I got here.

Medjugorje is not approved by the Church because it is still under investigation because the reported apparitions are ongoing and the Church has to wait until they conclude before making a final judgment. But Medjugorje made me ask, “Has Mary appeared other places?” Oh Yes, Lourdes, Fatima, Akita, Kibeho, San Nicholas, and many many more. 

I read those and I was hooked on Mary. She led me to Jesus!

I know 1000s upon 1000s of complacent Catholics who have been set on fire for Jesus through Mary. So tell folks that Our Lady is appearing and that will get their attention. And when they say, “Tell me more.” Be ready!

Four

Mission to the Gentiles and to the Secular World

Peter had a mission to the Jews and Paul to the Gentiles, to those who had no contact with Judaism. 

Since the Gentiles didn’t know the Old Testament, Paul couldn’t start with it. So, he began with what they already knew. 

It is no different today. It probably won’t work if we start by quoting Scripture to people.

So, we have to start with what can be known by universal experience, that is, facts or insights that are accessible to everyone. That is what philosophy is. 

We must be aware of the basic philosophical ideas out there, and how to respond to them. 

This is why the Catholic Church has always emphasized the importance of philosophy, because it’s the only evangelical common ground we have with people who don’t recognize God at all.

So a Catholic, to be an effective missionary, does need to know how to help people make sense of their universal experience, help them ask and answer the questions, “Where do we come from? Who made everything? Why is there order instead of chaos? Is there any purpose to human life?”

That kind of readiness takes some effort and some practice but St. Peter tells us it’s our obligation to “always be ready to give an answer to someone who asks us the reasons for the hope that is in us.” (I Peter 3). And if we’re going to take the gospel to the world, we have to be willing to engage in those kinds of conversations.

There is a wonderful little book that can get you prepared. It’s called Thinking Clearly by John Mark Miravalle.

Five

But with everyone, we need to begin with friendship

The best place to begin to evangelize others is not by telling them stuff but by asking good questions.

Start by getting to know them better. Because if you really know me, understand me, love me, and care for me, then I will allow you to ask me anything and challenge me with anything. But if you don’t know me…well…

To know people we have to spend time with them. So who are the people that God has placed in your life? Spouse, kids, in-laws, grandkids, elderly parents, friends, colleagues?

Commit to a small group of people. Then invite them to get together to share life regularly, once a week, once a month. A meal, drinks, dessert, time at the park.

When you are with them show them you are interested in them, you really enjoy them, get to know them better, and delight in them.

Do this consistently and keep inviting and doing it and be patient and then when they begin to have questions or show interest or openness to the faith. Be ready to invite them to some encounter with Jesus. Enter into a conversation about faith, or invite them to pray the Rosary with you or come to Mass or share with them some way to learn more.

When you have laid the groundwork and the harvest begins to bloom, don’t be timid. It is the Lord who is working. Rely on Him.