This weekend the church is usually back to a Sunday of Ordinary Time but this year since the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul falls in a Sunday, it is celebrated during this weekend.  It is fitting to celebrate them since they are foundational stones for the church.  Peter, also known as Cephas, is clearly stated as the rock on which the Lord Jesus said He would build his Church, and Paul, without him the Gentiles (that includes all non-Jewish) would not be part of the Church, members of the Body of Christ.   Both were necessary to get the church started.  Peter focused mostly on the people of Israel, calling the lost sheep of the House of Israel. Though he too spoke with the Gentiles and sometimes would get himself in a bind because he changed sides according to convenience.  Paul, who gives a little biography about himself, was very strict adherent of Judaism even more zealous than most of his contemporaries became a great missionary disciple for those who were called uncircumcised.  He brought the Gospel to places and to people never thought about.  He opened the gates of the gospel and for salvation to the Gentiles (that is those considered the pagans). Both have limitations.  Peter, as mentioned, could speak too much, and could change sides easily.   Both more so as seen in the Gospel he had to be told three different times if he loved the Lord, because he did not understand really what Jesus meant.  He was hard of understanding for Jesus told him, “Do you love me” and Peter responded more to the equivalent of “Yea, I like you.”  Another limitation of Peter is that he could collapse under pressure like the three times he denied the Lord.  Could it be possible that’s why Jesus also asks him three different times the question if he loved him? One for each time of denial.  And another limitation of Peter, though it is not directly mentioned it is alluded also in the Gospel, his lack of courage.  Peter was going to die but not willingly.  He would be taken where he would not want to go, the cross.  This is referenced at the end of the Gospel, he would be dressed and led where he did not want to go.  This would be the death he would endure to glorify God.  It seems lacking in courage and more so when combined with an apocryphal story about the circumstances of Peter’s death.  The story mentions Peter heard he was going to be crucified and decided to leave the city in the night, while on his way out of the city, he encountered Christ who was carrying a cross back into the city.  Peter asked, “Quo Vadis?”  which means “Where are you going?”  And Jesus responded, “To be crucified again in your place.”  Peter summoned the courage to return and then he was crucified upside down because he deemed himself unworthy to be crucified in the same manner the Lord had been crucified.  He had limitations, but also did Paul.  From the second reading of Galatians, it is hinted that Paul had a temper problem.  It mentions he persecuted the church beyond measure and tried to destroy it.  This is violent imagery.   Also speaking of losing temper, he precisely lost it with the Galatian community, calling them a derogatory word in another part of the letter.   He had been an accessory to the murder of Stephen. In depictions of Paul, a sword cannot be missing to illustrate his past.  Another limitation also seen indirectly in this letter was his insecurity. He wanted everyone to know he was on the same level as the apostles.  Nobody had told him anything about Jesus, it was revealed to him. He takes care to note that he was only “sharing notes” with Cephas for two weeks and so Cephas influence was not as great.   In another of his letters he argues against the super-apostles, and he says the other apostles who met Jesus were no better than him because he also met Jesus in a special way.  Limitations they had. But both were persecuted and executed. Paul was beheaded, and as mentioned, Peter was crucified.  Their lives demonstrate Jesus can call the limited to do unlimited good for the church.  At the end both received a share crown of glory.   The preface for these two saints celebrated in one day says something beautiful, “each in a different way gathered together the one family of Christ; and revered together throughout the world, they share one Martyr’s crown.”  Even though they had different ways to share the word of God, and had different limitations, their love of God unites them in heaven.  They ran and completed the race of faith and now have a crown of glory.  In the church we need Peters and Pauls of today, sharing the Gospel with others. Let us live like them, follow their example, so the church may constantly be built up! Then too we can receive the crown of unending glory and be with them and all the saints in heaven.