Acts 3:1-10; Galatians 1:11-20; John 21:15-19

Miracles draw attention to God’s presence. Jesus was known as a ‘miracle-worker’.
In this encounter of Peter with a man who was unable to walk, the miracle is performed in the name of Jesus.

In many miracle stories, the person with a disability asked to be healed, to be cured and to be part of society. In this story, however, the man didn’t ask for healing but was rather expecting to be financially supported. He asked for alms. He was used to be carried to the temple every day and to beg for money. Apparently, he had some support as he was carried to where he could beg, but he fully depended on those who carried him and those who gave alms to him. A reality without any hope for a change?

Peter and John had seen the man being carried up to the temple.
When they reach the temple, the man sits at the entrance, begging. Peter’s reply is not what the man expects. Instead of giving alms, he gives him the ability to help himself and to attend to the root of the problem rather than the symptoms.
The encounter happens at the ninth hour. The time of prayer – and also the time of Jesus’ crucifixion which ended His earthly life.
After the encounter with Peter and John and the healing by invoking Jesus’ name, the man’s life as a beggar is over, and a new life starts for him.
He doesn’t just get up and walk away. He jumps for joy and enters the temple which he might never have entered before. He was excluded and is now part of society. He understands that this miracle is not done by a human being but rather by God, and so he praises God for all to hear and see. A true witness of God’s grace.

In the letter to the Galatians, Paul mentions that God had chosen him while he was still in his mother’s womb. He was born with a mission without knowing it. The man we have just heard about was born with a disability. Was he also born with a specific mission?
Paul reflects on his past, his mercilessness, his persecution of followers of Jesus – while believing that this was the right thing to do to please the God of his ancestors. However, he now realises that he was chosen to proclaim the Good News. Chosen by God to proclaim God’s message.
It seems to be very important to Paul that there is no doubt as to why he is preaching the Good News. He was not influenced by human beings nor by a visit to Jerusalem, and he was not influenced by the followers of Jesus. Paul’s message is God’s message. This understanding seems to point at a prophet rather than a mere messenger.

In the Gospel according to John, Jesus has joined the disciples again. They were fishing, and it was the disciple Jesus loved who first recognised Jesus standing at the shore.
The catch was good, and everyone has eaten. This is the moment that Jesus gives instructions to Simon Peter. These instructions surprise Peter. He doesn’t understand Jesus’ question, and the fact that Jesus repeats it three times, doesn’t help. Maybe he is embarrassed as he recalls the three times that he was denying Jesus in the night before Jesus’ death?
Jesus and His disciples have just finished their meal. Does this refer only to their physical food? The disciples will have been nourished by Jesus’ presence. They feel special. They feel chosen.
However, they are not to withhold this nourishment from others. Peter, the rock on which the church is built, needs to realise that he is responsible for those who follow him. The followers might be young as lambs, need to be taken care of like sheep who believe they don’t need support, or are old and week – in need to be fed just like they were when they were young.
As a pastor, Peter needs to look after his flock, his followers, the way they need care in the different stages of their lives. This is not a mere job but a consequence that is born out of the love for Jesus. Peter doesn’t understand why Jesus apparently questions his love – ‘Lord, you know everything’….
Disabled from birth, being known in one’s mother’s womb, the Lord knows everything… The parallels in the Readings are there. It is through God’s grace that the lame is healed, and it is through God’s grace that Paul turned to preach the Good News, and it is through the love of Jesus that Peter is called to look after the followers of Jesus.
The needs during the different stages in life also apply to Peter. Three denials before Jesus’ death, three affirmations to prepare Peter for his own death.

On the Feast Day of St Peter and St Paul, we are reminded of these two followers of Jesus who were martyred and died in Rome. St Peter died on a cross and St Paul was beheaded.
These two saints have so much in common as they have both denied Jesus at a certain time in their lives. Both have been beacons of strength and dedication despite their sufferings. However, as the Readings of the day show, they have different strengths: Peter healed a man in the name of Jesus and was asked to attend to the needs of Jesus’ followers. Paul preached the Good News and spread the message of Jesus.
As Missionary Disciples, we are called to be witnesses of the Good News and, at the same time, be kind and support each other.

BM