SOLEMNITY OF STS. PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES 

Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

＊＊＊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.(……) Herod had him seized and thrown into prison (…..) but while Peter was kept in prison, the whole Church prayed earnestly for him.(…..)

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.(……) 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 ＊＊＊

2Tim 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 dept 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 ＊＊＊＊

  Mt 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 gospel：

“WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THE SON OF MAN IS?”

Peter and Paul are the two great pillars of the Church.

Peter was the leader of the 12 apostles. He refused to be silenced by the authorities and thus was imprisoned. Peter was bold to give witness to Christ because he journeyed with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. He rightly identified him when asked. He spoke on behalf of the group.

Paul was not one of the 12, but he is considered an apostle. He was also called by God through revelation. Like Peter, Paul felt he was poured out as a libation. He is waiting for his execution for speaking out for Christ. He too could not be silenced by authorities.

For Christians, it is very important to be anchored in Christ. We cannot follow Christ when we have not been with him in prayer and we are disconnected with his Church. Our discipleship entails mission. Here like the two apostles, we suffer for Christ. We are not spared of rejection and death when we boldly open our mouth and proclaim that “Christ is the Son of the Living God” and he is the way to salvation.

Do you lean on Jesus like the two pillars of the Church?