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Where did the apostles go? V

 

     The popular story is that Jesus summoned Peter to put down his nets and follow him, and the man walked away from his family and business. He was partners with James and John in the fishing business (Luke 5:10), and must have done rather well since he owned a boat (Luke 5:3), something which very few were able to do in that time. He very likely made his money from hard work, since he wasn’t well educated.  Peter was probably a little crude around the edges. The gospels tell that he was married, evidenced by Jesus coming to Peter’s house to cure the apostle’s mother-in-law. In challenging his right to apostleship in 1 Corinthians 9:3-6, Paul says that he should have the same privilege of bringing a wife along like Jesus’ brothers, Cephas (a Greek name for Peter), and the other disciples. This suggests that Peter’s family was in the larger group of disciples that traveled with them. Peter was not only the spokesman for the apostles, he also took Jesus’ stern admonishments, such as the time Jesus prophesied his passion and death and was rebuked by Peter. The Lord recognized the ‘Rock’ was speaking for all, and scolded him for their benefit (Mark 8:31-33). 

 

     Peter is mentioned more in the bible than any other apostle.  He was present for nearly every miracle from Cana to Bethany. It appears as though Jesus took a special interest in teaching the big fisherman. He guided him to walk on the water for as long as his faith would hold him. That human frailty came through, and Peter’s faith wasn’t quite strong enough (Matthew 14:22-33). 

 

     After the Ascension of the Lord, a new leader emerged. He had been afraid and denied even knowing the Lord during his passion. Acts of the Apostles tells the story of a man who had been converted completely.   He grasped leadership in both hands. He rallied the disciples together and took charge (Acts 1:15), delivered a most powerful oration that led to the conversion and baptism of three thousand in a single day (Acts 2:14-41), and performed the first miracle by an apostle (Acts 3:4-8).

 

     Peter is called the first pope, and his official church title is Bishop of Rome, as is every pope since. After the angel led him away from Herod’s captivity, the apostle went straight into the mouth of the dragon. He went to Rome which was the center of the known universe, and began preaching to the ever growing Roman Christian community.   There are myths galore about Peter and his duel with Simon Magus, or meeting Jesus on the road as he fled Roman persecution, who persuaded to return. One well known story is that Peter was hung upside on a cross, at his request and died a martyr on the same day as St. Paul. Although Peter’s tomb was verified under the high altar of St. Peter’s Basilica in the 1950’s, there is no evidence that he and Paul died together or even on the same day. Paul wrote about Peter on the road plenty of times, but never mentioned his being in Rome.

 

     There were many other disciples spreading the good news and ministering to those in need. Some are known by name like Barnabas, and Timothy, or Deaconess Phoebe and the women religious Paul introduced to the Church in Rome (Romans 16:1-16). Of course, there was the super-convert, St. Paul himself. The examples of Jesus’ message were shown by his Blessed Mother, and Mary Magdalene, ‘apostle to the apostles,’ and still, the other women like Salome and Mary Clopas. There were the chronologists Mark and Luke, along with the disciples who wrote the gospels according to Matthew and John. 

 

     It is no longer a matter of what the apostles and all the disciples really did or didn’t do. It doesn’t matter how they died or where they went as much as it does that they took the roots of faith, planted and nurtured them. They were strong when they needed to be and gave everything of themselves when that was the call. They had an unending love for Jesus the Lord. As the Church concludes this Pentecostal week (May 31-June 6, 2009) it commemorates those brave and faithful examples, the witnesses of Christ on earth. Without them, the Church wouldn’t be here now.