Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul
(Mass during the Day)
Lectionary:
591
In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the
Church to harm them.
He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword,
and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews
he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
"It was the feast of Unleavened Bread."
He had him taken into custody and put in prison
under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each.
He intended to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter thus was being kept in prison,
but prayer by the Church was fervently being made
to God on his behalf.
On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial,
Peter, secured by double chains,
was sleeping between two soldiers,
while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison.
Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him
and a light shone in the cell.
He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying,
"Get up quickly."
The chains fell from his wrists.
The angel said to him, "Put on your belt and your sandals."
He did so.
Then he said to him, "Put on your cloak and follow me."
So he followed him out,
not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real;
he thought he was seeing a vision.
They passed the first guard, then the second,
and came to the iron gate leading out to the city,
which opened for them by itself.
They emerged and made their way down an alley,
and suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter recovered his senses and said,
"Now I know for certain
that the Lord sent his angel
and rescued me from the hand of Herod
and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting."
He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword,
and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews
he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
"It was the feast of Unleavened Bread."
He had him taken into custody and put in prison
under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each.
He intended to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter thus was being kept in prison,
but prayer by the Church was fervently being made
to God on his behalf.
On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial,
Peter, secured by double chains,
was sleeping between two soldiers,
while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison.
Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him
and a light shone in the cell.
He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying,
"Get up quickly."
The chains fell from his wrists.
The angel said to him, "Put on your belt and your sandals."
He did so.
Then he said to him, "Put on your cloak and follow me."
So he followed him out,
not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real;
he thought he was seeing a vision.
They passed the first guard, then the second,
and came to the iron gate leading out to the city,
which opened for them by itself.
They emerged and made their way down an alley,
and suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter recovered his senses and said,
"Now I know for certain
that the Lord sent his angel
and rescued me from the hand of Herod
and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting."
Responsorial Psalm Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. (5) The angel of the Lord will
rescue those who fear him.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Reading
I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance.
The Lord stood by me and gave me strength,
so that through me the proclamation might be completed
and all the Gentiles might hear it.
And I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat
and will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance.
The Lord stood by me and gave me strength,
so that through me the proclamation might be completed
and all the Gentiles might hear it.
And I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat
and will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Gospel Mt 16:13-19
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter said in reply,
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, 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."
he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter said in reply,
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, 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."
Meditation:
"Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in
heaven"
Today in many churches of the
East and West the Apostles Peter and Paul are commemorated. Both were martyred
in How firm is your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? At an opportune time Jesus tested his disciples with a crucial question: Who do men say that I am and who do you say that I am? (Matthew 16:13). Jesus was widely recognized in
The New Testament describes the church, the people of God, as a spiritual house or temple with each member joined together as living stones (see 1 Peter 2:5). Faith in Jesus Christ makes us into rocks or spiritual stones. The Lord Jesus tests each of us personally with the same question: Who do you say that I am?
"Lord Jesus, I profess and believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. You are my Lord and my Savior who has set me free from sin and deception. Make my faith strong like the Apostles Peter and Paul and give me boldness to speak of you to others that they may come to know you as Lord and Savior."
 Rock of Peter |
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Solemnity of Saint Peter and
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Father Edward McIlmail, LC Listen to podcast version here. Matthew 16:13-19 When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, 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." Introductory Prayer: Jesus, I believe in you. I believe that you came into this world to suffer and die to give me a chance at eternal salvation. I want to draw close to you in this prayer. May this time I spend with you be an expression of my love. Petition: Help me, Lord, to enter into a deeper, personal relationship with you. 1. Identity Crisis: Jesus isn´t interested in what "others" think of him. He wants to know what I think of him. The test of any relationship is how committed people are to each other. At some point a young woman will wonder, how serious is her boyfriend? After a few weeks of class, a professor wants to know, who are the serious students here? On the eve of battle a soldier might wonder, can I count on my buddies when the bullets start flying? Likewise, Our Lord wonders about us. What does Christ mean to me? Is he just a picture on a holy card? A dimly perceived do-gooder from the past? Or does he have a real place in my life? He is, after all, the Second Person of the Trinity who came into the world in order to save us. How does that truth affect my faith? 2. Heavenly Revelation: Peter professes that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. And Jesus in turn tells him that this knowledge doesn´t come from the world. It comes from God the Father. Recognition of Jesus as the Christ involves an act of faith. Throughout history skeptics have tried to figure out Jesus, using just their reason and tools of research. But since when do we try to understand the totality of a person with reason? Learning about another person can often require personal contact, above all, listening to him or her. Do I try to listen to Jesus in prayer, in Scripture? Or do I simply try to "figure him out"? 3. Binding and Loosing: Keys were a symbol of authority. Our Lord had all authority on earth (see Matthew 28:18 and Mark 2:10). Authority implies the ability to delegate it; hence, Jesus gave Peter, as the first pope, the power to bind and loose, that is, to make disciplinary rules within the Church. A child who disobeys a licit command from its mother is committing a sin. Why? Not because Mom is God, but because Mom has authority from God. Authority, in this case papal authority, is not an imposition but rather a service. The Pope´s unique authority gives us a sure guide on moral questions. The Pope doesn´t have the power to make morality but rather to define authoritatively on issues at hand. How well do I know papal teaching? Do I make an effort to learn why he teaches as he teaches? When a difficulty arises, do I consult Church teaching? "Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me" (Luke 10:16). Conversation with Christ: Lord, help me to love my faith as an expression of my personal relationship with you. Keep me from ever growing cold in my faith. Grant me a renewed appreciation for the gift of papal authority. Resolution: I will read a few paragraphs of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, for example, a few about the papacy (880-887, 895, 1559). |
The
Lord has set me free from all my fears
‘You are the
Christ, the son of the living God.’Thus did Peter respond to Jesus’ question, ‘Who do you say I am?—the same question that is addressed to us today (indeed, every day) evoking, if we are truly Jesus’ disciples, a similar response in faith. This is the saving faith which both Peter and Paul proclaimed in their lives, in their letters and especially in their martyrdom.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
FREEDOM
If a person
binds himself solely to the one true God, who is not identical with any finite
reality, he becomes free in regard to all finite values, goods, powers. He then
perceives also the relativity of his own achievements and failures. He is no
longer subject to the merciless law of having to achieve something. Not that he
is dispensed from all achievement. But he is liberated from the constraint and
frenzy of achievement. He is no longer absorbed in his role or roles. He can be
the person he is.
- Hans Kung
Hans Kung,
On Being a Christian [Collins]
MINUTE
MEDITATIONS
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Embracing
Suffering
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Suffering is not something we need to escape
from or walk away from; rather we can embrace it. When we are able to do
that, we find Jesus showering us with his love from the cross. Amazing.
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June 29
Solemnity ofSts.
Peter and Paul
(d. 64 & 67)
Solemnity of
(d. 64 & 67)
Peter (d. 64?). St. Mark ends
the first half of his Gospel with a triumphant climax. He has recorded doubt,
misunderstanding and the opposition of many to Jesus. Now Peter makes his great
confession of faith: "You are the Messiah" (Mark 8:29b). It was one
of the many glorious moments in Peter's life, beginning with the day he was
called from his nets along the Sea of Galilee
to become a fisher of men for Jesus.
The New
Testament clearly shows Peter as the leader of the apostles, chosen by Jesus to
have a special relationship with him. With James and John he was privileged to
witness the Transfiguration, the raising of a dead child to life and the agony
in And to Peter only did Jesus say, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, 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" (Matthew 16:17b-19).
But the Gospels prove their own trustworthiness by the unflattering details they include about Peter. He clearly had no public relations person. It is a great comfort for ordinary mortals to know that Peter also has his human weakness, even in the presence of Jesus.
He generously gave up all things, yet he can ask in childish self-regard, "What are we going to get for all this?" (see Matthew 19:27). He receives the full force of Christ's anger when he objects to the idea of a suffering Messiah: "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do" (Matthew 16:23b).
Peter is willing to accept Jesus' doctrine of forgiveness, but suggests a limit of seven times. He walks on the water in faith, but sinks in doubt. He refuses to let Jesus wash his feet, then wants his whole body cleansed. He swears at the Last Supper that he will never deny Jesus, and then swears to a servant maid that he has never known the man. He loyally resists the first attempt to arrest Jesus by cutting off Malchus's ear, but in the end he runs away with the others. In the depth of his sorrow, Jesus looks on him and forgives him, and he goes out and sheds bitter tears. The Risen Jesus told Peter to feed his lambs and his sheep (John 21:15-17).
Paul (d. 64?). If the most well-known preacher today suddenly began preaching that the
Paul's central conviction was simple and absolute: Only God can save humanity. No human effort—even the most scrupulous observance of law—can create a human good which we can bring to God as reparation for sin and payment for grace. To be saved from itself, from sin, from the devil and from death, humanity must open itself completely to the saving power of Jesus.
Paul never lost his love for his Jewish family, though he carried on a lifelong debate with them about the uselessness of the Law without Christ. He reminded the Gentiles that they were grafted on the parent stock of the Jews, who were still God's chosen people, the children of the promise.
In light of his preaching and teaching skills, Paul's name has surfaced (among others) as a possible patron of the Internet.
Comment:
We would probably go to confession to Peter sooner than to any of the other apostles. He is perhaps a more striking example of the simple fact of holiness. Jesus says to us as he said, in effect, to Peter: "It is not you who have chosen me, but I who have chosen you. Peter, it is not human wisdom that makes it possible for you to believe, but my Father's revelation. I, not you, build my Church." Paul's experience of the risen Jesus on the road toDamascus
We would probably go to confession to Peter sooner than to any of the other apostles. He is perhaps a more striking example of the simple fact of holiness. Jesus says to us as he said, in effect, to Peter: "It is not you who have chosen me, but I who have chosen you. Peter, it is not human wisdom that makes it possible for you to believe, but my Father's revelation. I, not you, build my Church." Paul's experience of the risen Jesus on the road to
LECTIO: ST. PETER AND ST. PAUL
Lectio: Friday, June 29,
2012
Jesus said to Peter, "You are the Rock!"
The Rock of support and of scandal
Matthew 16:13-23
1. Opening prayer
Lord Jesus, send your Spirit to help us to read the Scriptures
with the same mind that you read them to the disciples on the way to Emmaus. In
the light of the Word, written in the Bible, you helped them to discover the
presence of God in the disturbing events of your sentence and death. Thus, the
cross that seemed to be the end of all hope became for them the source of life
and of resurrection.
Create in us silence so that we may listen to your voice in
Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor
and suffering. May your word guide us so that we too, like the two disciples
from Emmaus, may experience the force of your resurrection and witness to
others that you are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and
peace. We ask this of you, Jesus, son of Mary, who revealed to us the Father
and sent us your Spirit. Amen.
2. Reading
a) A key to the reading:
The liturgical text of the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul is taken
from the Gospel of Matthew: 16:13-19. In our commentary we also include verses
20 -23, because in the entirety of the text, verses 13 to 23, Jesus turns to
Peter and twice calls him "rock". Once he calls him the foundation
stone (Mt 16:18) and once the rock of scandal (Mt 16:23). Both statements
complement each other. While reading the text, it is good to pay attention to
Peter's attitude and to the solemn words that Jesus addresses to him on two
occasions.
b) A division of the text to help with the reading:
13-14: Jesus wishes to know what people think of him.
15-16: Jesus asks the disciples and Peter makes his confession:
"You are the Christ, the Son of God!"
17-20: Then we have Jesus' solemn reply to Peter (a key phrase
for today's feast).
21-22: Jesus explains the meaning of Messiah, but Peter reacts
and refuses to accept.
22-23: Jesus' solemn reply to Peter.
c) The text:
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi,
he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" 14
And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others
Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16
Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon
Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who
is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build
my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give
you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be
bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in
heaven." 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he
was the Christ.
21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must
go to Jerusalem
22 And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, "God
forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you." 23 But he turned and said
to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are
not on the side of God, but of men."
3. A moment of prayerful silence
so that the Word of God may penetrate and enlighten our life.
4. Some questions
to help us in our personal reflection.
a) What most caught my attention?
b) Who do the people think Jesus is? Who do Peter and the
disciples think Jesus is?
c) Who is Jesus for me? Who am I for Jesus?
d) Peter is rock in two ways: what are they?
e) What kind of rock is our community?
f) In the text we find several opinions as to who Jesus is and
several ways of presenting the faith. Today too, there are several opinions as
to who Jesus is. Which opinions does our community know? What kind of mission
does that imply for us?
5. A key to the reading
to enter deeper into the theme.
i) The context:
In the narrative parts of his Gospel, Matthew follows the
sequence of Mark's Gospel. However, he also quotes a source known to him and
Luke. Rarely does he give information that is solely his, as in today's Gospel.
This text and the dialogue between Jesus and Peter is interpreted variously,
even in opposite directions in the various Christian churches. In the Catholic
Church, this text forms the basis for the primacy of Peter. Without in any way
diminishing the importance of this text, it might be good to situate it in the
context of Matthew's Gospel, where, elsewhere, the qualities ascribed to Peter
are also attributed to other persons. They do not belong exclusively to Peter.
ii) Commentary on the text:
a) Matthew: 16: 13-16: The opinions of the people and those of
the disciples concerning Jesus.
Jesus wishes to know what people think of him. The answers are
quite varied: John the Baptist, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. When Jesus
asks the disciples' opinion, Peter replies in their name: "You are the
Christ, the Son of the living God!" Peter's reply is not new. On a
previous occasion, when Jesus walked on the water, the other disciples had made
a similar profession of faith: "Truly you are the Son of God!" (Mt
14:33). This is an acknowledgement that in Jesus the prophecies of the Old
Testament are fulfilled. In John's Gospel Martha makes the same profession of
faith: "You are the Christ, the Son of God who is come into the
world" (Jn 11:27).
b) Matthew: 16:17: Jesus' reply to Peter: Blessed are you,
Peter!
Jesus proclaims Peter "blessed" because he has been
given a revelation from the Father. Jesus' reply too is not new. On a previous
occasion, Jesus had made the same proclamation of blessedness to the disciples
because they were hearing and seeing that which no one else knew before (Mt
13:16), and he praised the Father because he had revealed the Son to little
ones and not to the learned (Mt 11:25). Peter is one of the little ones to whom
the Father reveals himself. The perception that God is present in Jesus does
not "come from flesh and blood", it is not the result of study or
merit of human effort, but a gift that God gives to whom he pleases.
c) Matthew: 16:18-20: Peter's qualifications: Being foundation
stone and taking possession of the keys of the Kingdom.
1. Being Rock: Peter has to be rock, that is, he has to be a
strong foundation for the Church, so that she may stand up to the assaults of
the gates of hell. Through these words addressed by Jesus to Peter, Matthew
encourages the suffering and persecuted communities in Syria and Palestine Syria and Palestine cultivated their relationship with the person of
Peter; those of Greece with
the person of Paul; some communities in Asia
with the person of the beloved Disciple and others with the person of John of
the Apocalypse. Identifying themselves with the leader of their origin helped
them to grow better in their identity and spirituality. But this could also
give rise to conflict as in the case of the community of Corinth
Being rock as foundation of the faith, recalls to mind the word
of God to the people in exile in Babylonia: "Listen to me, you who pursue
justice, who seek the Lord; look to the rock from which you were hewn, to the
pit from which you were quarried; look to Abraham, your father, and to Sara,
who gave you birth; when he was but one I called him, I blessed him and made
him many" (Is 51:1-2). When applied to Peter, this quality of foundation
stonepoints to a new beginning for the people of God.
2. The keys of the Kingdom: Peter receives the keys of the
Kingdom to bind and to loose, that is, to reconcile people with God. The same
power of binding and loosing is given to the communities (Mt 18:8) and to the
disciples (Jn 20:23). One of the points on which the Gospel of Matthew insists
is reconciliation and pardon (Mt 5:7.23-24.38-42.44-48; 6:14-15; 18:15-35). The
reality is that in the 80s and 90s, there were many tensions and divisions
within families in the communities in Syria
3. The Church: the word Church, in Greek ekklesia, is found 105
times in the New Testament, almost always in the Acts and the Epistles. We find
the word only three times in the Gospels and only in Matthew. The word means
"a called assembly" or "chosen assembly". The word applies
to the people gathered, called by the Word of God, a people that seeks to live
the message of the Kingdom brought by Jesus. The Church is not the Kingdom, but
an instrument and a sign of the Kingdom. The Kingdom is greater. In the Church,
the community, all must see or should see what happens when a group of people
allows God to rule and take possession of its life.
d) Matthew: 16:21-22: Jesus completes what is lacking in Peter's
reply, and Peter reacts by not accepting.
Peter had confessed: "You are the Christ, the Son of the
living God!" In keeping with the prevailing ideology of the time, he
imagined a glorious Messiah. Jesus corrects him: "It is necessary that the
Messiah suffer and be killed in Jerusalem
e) Matthew: 16:23: Jesus' reply to Peter: rock of scandal.
Jesus' reply is surprising: "Get behind me, satan, you are
a scandal to me, for you do not mind the things of God, but those of
men!"Satan is the one who leads us away from the path marked out for us by
God. Jesus literally says: "Get behind me!" (in Latin, vada retro!).
Peter wanted to steer and point the way. Jesus says: "Get behind me!"
Jesus not Peter is the one who points the way and sets the rhythm. The disciple
must follow the master. He must live in constant conversion. Jesus' word was
also a message to all those who led the communities. They must
"follow" Jesus and they may not go before as Peter wished to do. It
is not only they who are able to point the way or the manner. On the contrary,
like Peter, instead of being a rock of support, they can become rock of
scandal. Such were some leaders of the communities at the time of Matthew.
There were ambiguities. The same may happen among us today.
iii) A further explanation of the Gospels concerning Peter:
A portrait of St. Peter.
Peter was transformed from fisherman of fish to fisherman of men
(Mk 1:7). He was married (Mk 1:30). He was a good man and very human. He tended
naturally to a role of leadership among the twelve disciples of Jesus. Jesus
respected this natural quality and made Peter the leader of his first community
(Jn 21:17). Before joining Jesus' community, Peter's name was Simon bar Jona
(Mt 16:17), Simon son of Jonah. Jesus nicknamed him Cephas or Rock, and this
then became Peter (Lk 6:14).
By nature, Peter could have been anything but rock. He was
courageous in speech, but at the hour of danger he fell victim to fear and
fled. For instance, when Jesus came walking on the water, Peter asked:
"Jesus, can I too come to you on the water?" Jesus replied:
"Come, Peter!" Peter then went out of the boat and started walking on
the water. But when a bigger wave came along, he got afraid and began to sink.
He then cried out: "Save me, Lord!" Jesus took hold of him and saved
him (Mt 14:28-31). At the last supper, Peter said to Jesus: "I shall never
deny you, Lord!" (Mk 14:31); yet a few hours later, in the palace of the
high priest, in front of a servant girl, when Jesus had already been arrested,
Peter denied Jesus swearing that he had no connection with him (Mk 14:66-72).
In the garden of olives, when Jesus had been arrested, he even used his word
(Jn 18:10), but then fled, leaving Jesus alone (Mk 14:50). Peter was not
naturally rock! And yet the weak and human Peter, so like us, did become rock
because Jesus had prayed for him: "Peter, I have prayed for you so that
your faith may not fail; and, when you have turned again, strengthen your
brethren" (Lk 22:31-32). That is why Jesus was able to say: "You are
Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church" (Mt 16:18). Jesus helped
him to become rock. After the resurrection, in Galilee ,
Jesus appeared to Peter and asked him twice: "Peter, do you love me?"
And Peter replied twice: "Lord, you know that I love you" (Jn
21:15.16). When Jesus put the same question to him the third time, Peter was
hurt. He must have remembered that he had denied him three times. So he
answered: "Lord, you know all things! You know that I love you!" It
was then that Jesus entrusted to him the care of the sheep: "Peter, feed
my sheep!" (Jn 21:17). With Jesus' help, the strength of the rock grew in
Peter and he revealed himself on the day of Pentecost. On that day, when the
Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, Peter opened the doors of the upper
room where they were all gathered behind closed doors for fear of the Jews (Jn
20:19), and, infused with courage, began to announce the Good News of Jesus to
the people (Acts 2:14-40). From then on he never stopped! On account of this
courageous proclamation of the resurrection, he was arrested (Acts 4:3). During
the interrogation he was forbidden to announce the good news (Acts 4:18), but
Peter did not obey the prohibition. He said: "We must obey God rather then
man!" (Acts 4:19; 5:29). He was arrested again (Acts 5:18.26). He was
scourged (Acts 5:40). But he said: "Thank you very much. But we shall go
on!" (cfr Acts 5:42).
Tradition tells us that at the end of his life, when he was in Rome
6. Psalm 103 (102)
ThanksgivingBless the Lord, O my soul;
and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good as long as you live
so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.
The Lord works vindication
and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger for ever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor requite us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father pities his children,
so the Lord pities those who fear him.
For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
But the steadfast love of the Lord
is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children's children,
to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
hearkening to the voice of his word!
Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers that do his will!
Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
7. Final Prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank for the word that has enabled us to
understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our actions
and grant us the strength to practice that which your Word has revealed to us.
May we, like Mary, your mother, not only listen to but also practise the Word.
You who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever
and ever. Amen.
