When you stop to think about it, it’s pretty amazing that the Christian faith, with more than 2 billion followers world-wide, is not only the largest religious tradition but got it’s start through the efforts of the 12 very ordinary men who were the original Apostles.

Among them were a zealot, a tax collector, a thief and at least four, and maybe as many as seven fishermen.

Fishermen were not educated, but they were hard workers, dedicated to their livelihood and living much of their lives in their boats. They learned patience and developed the strength to deal with hard times, all things that would have been needed as followers of Jesus.

Jesus knew these men to their very souls. In spite of their times of frailty, misunderstanding, arguments and fear, Jesus knew they would flourish with the power of the Holy Spirit when the time came, and become, as Scripture says, “fishers of men.” And of this crew, Jesus chose Peter – not only a fisherman but the man who cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant in the Garden of Gethsemane, denied knowing Jesus when the rooster crowed and ran in fear – and made him the head of Jesus’ Church.

Jesus said to Peter, “… you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

“I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

That’s a lot of responsibility for one person, especially one who is not by nature a preacher or teacher or builder of churches.

But Peter rose to the occasion, putting his faith in Jesus and the promises of the Father. He stands as an important inspiration for us and for our youth as to what’s possible when we trust in the will of God.

Some interesting facts about Peter to share with students:

• St. Peter’s symbols include a boat, a fish, a rooster, keys to Heaven and a severed ear. He is also depicted in paintings crucified on an upside down cross. Peter did not feel worthy to be crucified in the manner of Christ, so he asked to hang upside down.
• St. Peter is the first pope and is often shown in images wearing papal robes in the color red, which is the color which signifies a martyr.
• Through the power of the Holy Spirit, St. Peter the fisherman preached to thousands of people on the day of Pentecost and 3,000 people were baptized into the Church. This day is known as the birthday of the Church.
• St. Peter had a bad temper and was quick to get angry, which is probably why Jesus had to heal the ear of the High Priest’s servant when Peter got angry and cut it off when the Jewish authorities came to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
• St. Peter first met Jesus while listening to a sermon by John the Baptist. Immediately, Peter knew Jesus was the Messiah.
• St. Peter’s name was Simon Peter, but Jesus often called him Cephas, which in Aramaic means “rock.”
• St. Peter always asked questions, so he could understand what Jesus was teaching the Apostles. He was curious, outspoken, assertive and loyal to Jesus. He always asked for clarification, an important quality for any student.

A reflection for teachers: “… there is a path in Peter’s life that can illuminate the path of our own. The Lord granted him many graces and freed him from evil: he does this with us too. Indeed, often we go to him only in moments of need, to ask for help. But God sees farther and invites us to go further, to seek not only his gifts, but to seek him, who is the Lord of all gifts; to entrust to him not only our problems, but to entrust our life to him” (Pope Francis, Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, June 29, 2020).

About the Author
Mary Clifford Morrell, mother of six and grandmother to ten, is a Catholic journalist, editor, and author who has served the Dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton, New Jersey; Burlington, Vermont, and RENEW International in the areas of religious education and communication.