Lessons Appointed for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.
Ezekiel 34:11-16; Psalm 87; 2 Timothy 4:1-8; John 21:15-19
“Thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep: (Ezekiel 34:11 and 12)
Today our Church remembers Saints Peter and Paul. While Paul proclaims to be the one sent to the Gentiles, there is scriptural evidence to show that Peter also was sent to non-Israelites to proclaim the Gospel message of love for One God and one another.
The image of shepherds is used in the Ezekiel and John readings. Neither were shepherds: Peter was a fisherman and Paul was a tent maker and Pharisee. Jesus made them both shepherds of people. And, while they did meet and in some cases disagree, they had the same mission, to find the disagreeable and teach them that they are welcomed and invited to be with us. God works in mysterious ways.
We too are sent, not to shepherd others to be one of us, but rather, to others to be of one Shepherd. It is Jesus who will make us one flock, under one Shepherd.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray:
Almighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you by their martyrdom: Grant that your Church, instructed by their teaching and example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP 241)
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