Twin Pillars

Complementary Charisms

Peter

Quick to follow Jesus

Quick to proclaim him Messiah and Lord

ahead of the other Apostles

thus acing his midterm exam

Just as quick to deny the necessity of Jesus’ passion and death.

And again, to deny even that he knew Jesus.

Quick also to repent

‘Lord, you know that I love you.’

Slow to open to new ideas for new conditions

eg, controversy over Gentile circumcision.

Paul

slow to follow Jesus

persecuted early believers.

Having encountered the person of Jesus

he applied all his energy and insight into serving his mission.

Quick to seize the opportunity to expand his outreach to the Gentiles

when Jewish leaders rejected the message.

Zealous and energetic in leading and showing his communities the way to Christ;

and training the next generation of leaders, eg, Timothy

Two very different men

together, they provided

everything necessary for the early community to grow and flourish.

together, they worked through their differences

to find a new way forward in unity.

Today

we honor and celebrate them

in story and song;

and we pray that, through their intercession God may equip the church for the present and future

with every necessary gift;

Most especially, the gift of reconciliation

John 17:21–23 ESV-CE

21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.