Acts 12:1-11 /2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18/ Matthew 16:13-19 (2016)
Today's feast is in some ways unique because we remember the two great saints who are the pillars of the Church - St. Peter and St. Paul.
Both were martyred in Rome in the first century and tradition has it that in AD 258, their remains were temporarily removed on 29th June to prevent them from defilement during persecution.
That is the primary reason why although the two saints have feast days of their own, today they are joined together in one feast.
But as we reflect on the readings, then we see today's celebration of the feast of these two great saints has more than just a commemorative reason.
Today we celebrated mystery - that the Church is founded on Jesus Christ and that He has given spiritual authority to St. Peter and the apostles and their successors, and that the gates of the underworld can never hold out against the Church.
We celebrate communion because the authority is for service and unity and in St. Peter and St. Paul, we see that although they had their disagreements with each other, they understand that their fundamental task is to serve the Lord and build the Church in unity.
We also celebrate mission because the Church does not exist for its own sake but for the proclamation of the Good News and for the salvation of the world.
So on this feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, let us contemplate on the mystery of God in the Church, let us work for communion in the Church and let us also be ready to respond to the call of mission of salvation.