Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.
SOLEMNITY OF STS. PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES
Psalter: Proper / (Red)
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 34: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9: The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
1st Reading: Acts 12: 1-11
About that time king Herod decided to persecute some members of the Church.
He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword, and when he saw how it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
This happened during the festival of the Unleavened Bread. Herod had him seized and thrown into prison with four squads, each of four soldiers, to guard him.
He wanted to bring him to trial before the people after the Passover feast, but while Peter was kept in prison, the whole Church prayed earnestly for him.
On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound by a double chain, while guards kept watch at the gate of the prison.
Suddenly, an angel of the Lord stood there and a light shone in the prison cell. The angel tapped Peter on the side and woke him saying, “Get up quickly!”
At once, the chains fell from Peter’s wrists. The angel said, “Put on your belt and your sandals.”
Peter did so; and the angel added, “Now, put on your cloak and follow me.” Peter followed him out; yet he did not realize that what was happening with the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision.
They passed the first guard, and then the second, and they came to the iron door leading out to the city, which opened by itself for them. They went out and made their way down a narrow alley, when suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter recovered his senses and said, “Now I know that the Lord has sent his angel and has rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from all that the Jews had in store for me.
2nd Reading: 2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 17-18
As for me, I am already poured out as a libation, and the moment of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Now, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, with which the Lord, the just judge, will reward me, on that day, and not only me, but all those who have longed for his glorious coming.
But the Lord was at my side, giving me strength, to proclaim the word fully, and let all the pagans hear it.
So, I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will save me from all evil, bringing me to his heavenly kingdom. Glory to him for ever and ever. Amen!
Gospel: Matthew 16: 13-19
After that, Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi. He asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They said, “For some of them, you are John the Baptist; for others Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” Jesus asked them, “But you, who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “It is well for you, Simon Barjona, for it is not flesh or blood that has revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And now I say to you: You are Peter; and on this Rock I will build my Church; and never will the powers of death overcome it.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you unbind on earth shall be unbound in heaven.”
REFLECTION:
“Who do you say I am?”
Today is the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, the two great apostles. They are also known as the two pillars of the Church.
According to Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven to Peter.
Today’s Gospel passage points out that Peter’s profession of faith itself was a revelation from the heavenly Father.
Such profession of faith was not revealed through flesh and blood. This clearly implies that it is the Lord who keeps building up his Church. We are mere instruments of God in his mission to build up his Church.
With regard to this, we are called to hold on to God lest our effort to help build up the Church be in vain (cf. Ps. 127:1).
Furthermore, we are called to open ourselves to God’s grace. Openness to God’s grace entails using our God-given gifts in order to build up the Christian communities.
Paul accentuated this challenge (1 Cor. 3:19ff; 14:12) too.
Paul exhorted us to no longer live according to the flesh so as to avoid jealousy and rivalry (cf. 1 Cor. 3:3-4).
We can keep the faith (cf. 2 Tim. 4:6) when we build up one another by showing our loving concern and support.
CLARETIAN COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDATION, INC.
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