Sunday, June 29 2014; Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

Reading 1,
Acts 12:1-11

¹ It was about this time that King Herod started persecuting certain members of the church.

² He had James the brother of John beheaded,

³ and when he saw that this pleased the Jews he went on to arrest Peter as well.

⁴ As it was during the days of Unleavened Bread that he had arrested him, he put him in prison, assigning four sections of four soldiers each to guard him, meaning to try him in public after the Passover.

⁵ All the time Peter was under guard the church prayed to God for him unremittingly.

⁶ On the night before Herod was to try him, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with two chains, while guards kept watch at the main entrance to the prison.

⁷ Then suddenly an angel of the Lord stood there, and the cell was filled with light. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him. 'Get up!' he said, 'Hurry!' -- and the chains fell from his hands.

⁸ The angel then said, 'Put on your belt and sandals.' After he had done this, the angel next said, 'Wrap your cloak round you and follow me.'

⁹ He followed him out, but had no idea that what the angel did was all happening in reality; he thought he was seeing a vision.

¹⁰ They passed through the first guard post and then the second and reached the iron gate leading to the city. This opened of its own accord; they went through it and had walked the whole length of one street when suddenly the angel left him.

¹¹ It was only then that Peter came to himself. And he said, 'Now I know it is all true. The Lord really did send his angel and save me from Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.'

Responsorial Psalm,
Psalms 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

² I will praise Yahweh from my heart; let the humble hear and rejoice.

³ Proclaim with me the greatness of Yahweh, let us acclaim his name together.

⁴ I seek Yahweh and he answers me, frees me from all my fears.

⁵ Fix your gaze on Yahweh and your face will grow bright, you will never hang your head in shame.

⁶ A pauper calls out and Yahweh hears, saves him from all his troubles.

⁷ The angel of Yahweh encamps around those who fear him, and rescues them.

⁸ Taste and see that Yahweh is good. How blessed are those who take refuge in him.

⁹ Fear Yahweh, you his holy ones; those who fear him lack for nothing.

Reading 2,
Second Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18

⁶ As for me, my life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to depart.

⁷ I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith;

⁸ all there is to come for me now is the crown of uprightness which the Lord, the upright judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his appearing.

¹⁷ But the Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed for all the gentiles to hear; and so I was saved from the lion's mouth.

¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Gospel,
Matthew 16:13-19

¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of man is?'

¹⁴ And they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.'

¹⁵ 'But you,' he said, 'who do you say I am?'

¹⁶ Then Simon Peter spoke up and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'

¹⁷ Jesus replied, 'Simon son of Jonah, you are a blessed man! Because it was no human agency that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven.

¹⁸ So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my community. And the gates of the underworld can never overpower it.

¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.'

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: TODAY IS THE DAY

"No mere man has revealed this to you, but My heavenly Father." –Matthew 16:17

Because the Church is founded on the apostles, today is a very significant day. In some countries, today's feast of Sts. Peter and Paul is a holy day of obligation. The Lord has done such astounding works on this day that the Church in some countries believes that in charity it should oblige Catholics to celebrate the Eucharist today and receive all the Lord wants to give them.

Today God sends an angel to free those in bondage (see Acts 12:7). Today the Lord thwarts the murderous plans of wicked governments (see Acts 12:1ff). On this holy day, people are pouring out their lives in total surrender to the Lord's will (see 2 Tm 4:6). Today the Lord is giving the grace of a happy death to many thousands (see 2 Tm 4:7-8). On this special day of grace, God is changing people's names and lives, as these people profess Jesus as "the Messiah" and "the Son of the living God" (Mt 16:16). Today the Lord Jesus is raising up leaders for His Church (see Mt 16:18). In turn, these leaders will raise up the Church to attack and conquer the very gates of hell (Mt 16:18).

Today is a holy day. It is set apart (see Sir 33:7-9). It is a day of love, power, conversion, forgiveness, reconciliation, healing, and hope. Sts. Peter and Paul, pray for us.

PRAYER: Father, today I open my heart to receive more than I can ever ask for or imagine (Eph 3:20).

PROMISE: "The Lord will continue to rescue me from all attempts to do me harm and will bring me safe to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen." –2 Tm 4:18

PRAISE: Sts. Peter and Paul, a fisherman and a tentmaker, were the chosen apostles to the Jews and Gentiles, who spread the good news to all the earth.

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