On the Feast of Sts Peter & Paul today, and courtesy of ChristianArt.com, I came across this wonderful painting by an artist I've never heard of called Cavarazzi (1587-1625), a follower of Caravaggio.
We can see the two saints meeting and apparently discussing a text, maybe from the Jewish Bible, the Old Testament. Paul is pointing and, I think, has just given his opinion, presumably with some force. Peter is not so sure. Head in hand he ponders the question. We know from Paul's writing that they did not always agree, at least not at first, so there is scriptural basis for this theme. I love the contrast of the two faces, and how Paul is determined and almost fierce, yet at the same time is awaiting Peter's opinion.
St Paul represents the "centrifugal force" in Christianity, always pushing towards the edges, whereas St Peter is the "centripetal force" holding things together. The balance of these two forces keeps the Earth spinning around the Sun, and has echoes throughout creation. As Christians we also must have both - we must be hinged into the centre, to Jesus, the Church, the Sacraments and so on, but we must also go out, engage, get involved and in our own way spread the Word.
We must all find the Peter and the Paul within us.
Wisdom
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