Peter and Paul

I’m so glad they were both called, these men of faith and passion, who came to understand that nothing in life mattered as much as the good news they'd been trusted to proclaim.

They were so very different.
Peter the fisherman, the rough diamond, quick to love and to condemn, not so much rock-like as rocky, prey to his feelings in a way that I recognise all too well. Peter, the one who ran away.
Paul the Pharisee, versed in each nuance of the Law, relentless in pursuit of anything that threatened the supremacy of his unquestioned truths. The one whose life was turned around in an shining instant that has become a by-word for conversion.

Neither of them got it "right" (I nearly said "neither of them were saints"- a reflection on the prevlailing unreality of some concepts of holiness) , though they both saw and recognised the truth of Christ and lived out its implications as they could.
Both of them erred, repented, erred again, but they became the founding fathers…the ones through whom God put the Kingdom firmly on the map.

God used them, despite (or because of ) their weaknesses…Just as he uses us.

Almighty God, whose blessed apostles, Peter and Paul
glorified you in their death as in their life:
grant that your Church
Inspired by their teaching and example,
and made one by your Spirit,
may ever stand firm upon the one foundation,
Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.