Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 06-29-05, Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles

USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 06-29-05 | New American Bible

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June 29, 2005
Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
Mass during the Day

Psalm: Wednesday 29

Reading I
Acts 12:1-11

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."

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.

Reading II
2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18

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.

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."

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Looking Ahead to Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul - Address of Pope Benedict XVI

Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, apostles

John Paul II's Homily on Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

[Salvation]

From: Acts 12:1-11


Persecution by Herod. Peter's Arrest and Deliverance

---

[1] About that time Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who
belonged to the church. [2] He killed James the brother of John with
the sword; [3] and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded
to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.
[4] And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered him
to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover
to bring him out to the people. [5] So Peter was kept in prison; but
earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.


[6] The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was
sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries
before the door were guarding the prison; [7] and behold, an angel of
the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter
on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell
off his hands. [8] And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put
on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your mantle
around you and follow me." [9] And he went out and followed him; he did
not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was
seeing a vision. [10] When they had passed the first and the second
guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened to
them of its own accord, and they went out and passed on through one
street; and immediately the angel left him. [11] And Peter came to
himself, and said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and
rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people
were expecting."

---

Commentary:


1-19. This is an account of persecution of the Church by Herod Agrippa
(37-44), which took place before the visit of Paul and Barnabas to the
Holy City(cf. 11:30).


The information given in this chapter about the latest persecution of
the Jerusalem community--more severe and more general than the earlier
crises (cf. 5:17; 8:1)--gives an accurate picture of the situation in
Palestine and describes events in chronological sequence. Prior to this
the Roman governors more or less protected the rights of the Jerusalem
Christians. Now Agrippa, in his desire to ingratiate himself with the
Pharisees, abandons the Christians to the growing resentment and hatred
the Jewish authorities and people feel towards them.


This chapter brings to an end, so to speak, the story of the first
Christian community in Jerusalem. From now on, attention is
concentrated on the church of Antioch. The last stage of the
Palestinian Judeo-Christian church, under the direction of James "the
brother of the Lord", will not experience the expansion enjoyed by
other churches, due to the grave turn which events take in the Holy
Land.


1. This Herod is the third prince of that name to appear in the New
Testament. He was a grandson of Herod the Great, who built the new
temple of Jerusalem and was responsible for the massacre of the Holy
Innocents (cf. Mt 2:16); he was also a nephew of Herod Antipas, the
tetrarch of Galilee at the time of our Lord's death. Herod Agrippa I
was a favorite of the emperor Caligula, who gradually gave him more
territory and allowed him to use the title of king. Agrippa I managed
to extend his authority over all the territory his grandfather had
ruled: Roman governors had ruled Judea up to the year 41, but in that
year it was given over to Herod. He was a sophisticated type of person,
a diplomat, so bent on consolidating his power that he had became a
master of intrigue and a total opportunist. For largely political
motives he practiced Judaism with a certain rigor.


2. James the Greater would have been martyred in the year 42 or 43. He
was the first Apostle to die for the faith and the only one whose death
is mentioned in the New Testament. The Liturgy of the Hours says of
him: "The son of Zebedee and the brother of John, he was born in
Bethsaida. He witnessed the principal miracles performed by our Lord
and was put to death by Herod around the year 42. He is held in special
veneration in the city of Compostela, where a famous church is
dedicated to his name."


"The Lord permits this death," Chrysostom observes, "to show his
murderers that these events do not cause the Christians to retreat or
desist" ("Hom. on Acts", 26).


5. "Notice the feelings of the faithful towards their pastors. They do
not riot or rebel; they have recourse to prayer, which can solve all
problems. They do not say to themselves: we do not count, there is no
point in our praying for him. Their love led them to pray and they did
not think along those lines. Have you noticed what these persecutors
did without intending to? They made (their victims) more determined to
stand the test, and (the faithful) more zealous and loving" ("Hom. on
Acts", 26).


St Luke, whose Gospel reports our Lord's words on perseverance in
prayer (cf. 11:13; 18:1-8), here stresses that God listens to the
whole community's prayer for Peter. He plans in his providence to save
the Apostle for the benefit of the Church, but he wants the outcome to
be seen as an answer to the Church's fervent prayer.


7-10. The Lord comes to Peter's help by sending an angel, who opens the
prison and leads him out. This miraculous freeing of the Apostle is
similar to what happened at the time of Peter and John's detention
(5:19f) and when Paul and Silas are imprisoned in Philippi (16:19ff).


This extraordinary event, which must be understood exactly as it is
described, shows the loving care God takes of those whom he entrusts
with a mission. They must strive to fulfill it, but they will "see" for
themselves that he guides their steps and watches over them.

---

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

[Salvation]

From: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18


The Crown of Righteousness

---

[6] For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my
departure has come. [7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished
the race, I have kept the faith. [8] Henceforth there is laid up for me
the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will
award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have
loved his appearing.


[17] For the Lord stood by me and gave me strength to proclaim the word
fully, that all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the
lion's mouth. [18] The Lord will rescue me from every evil and save me
for his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

---

Commentary:


6-8. Conscious of his closeness to death, St Paul writes in poetic
strain about his life in the service of the Gospel, about the meaning
of death and his hope of heaven. The imagery he uses shows how he
interprets his experience in the light of faith. "On the point of being
sacrificed": literally "poured out in sacrifice": death is an offering
to God, like the libations of oil poured on the altar of sacrifices.
Death is the beginning of a journey: "the point of my departure has
come", the anchor is being weighed, the sails unfurled.


The Christian life is like magnificent Games taking place in the
presence of God, who acts as the judge. In Greece the Games had close
connections with religious worship; St Paul presents the Christian life
as a type of spiritual sport: "races" indicates the continuous effort
to achieve perfection (cf. Phil 3:14); training for athletics indicates
the practice of self-denial (cf. 1 Cor 9:26-27); fighting stands for
the effort required to resist sin even if that means death, as can
happen in the event of persecution (cf. Heb 12:4). It is well
worthwhile taking part in this competition, because, as St John
Chrysostom points out, "the crown which it bestows never withers. It is
not made of laurel leaves, it is not a man who places it on our head,
it has not been won in the presence of a crowd made up of men, but in a
stadium full of angels. In earthly competitions a man fights and
strives for days and the only reward he receives is a crown which
withers in a matter of hours [. . .]. That does not happen here: the
crown he is given is a glory and honor whose brilliance lasts forever
("Hom. on 2 Tim, ad loc".).


All Christians who "have loved his appearing", that is, who stay true
to Christ, share St Paul's expectation of eternal life. "We who know
about the eternal joys of the heavenly fatherland should hasten to
reach it by the more direct route" (St Gregory the Great, "In Evangelia
Homiliae", 16).


9-18. In his letters St Paul often asks people to do things for him;
his messages here are particularly moving, given as they are on the eve
of his martyrdom. He is following the example of Christ: he puts his
trust in God even though his friends desert him (vv. 10-12, 16); his
enemies harass him more than ever, yet he forgives them (vv. 14, 16);
in the midst of his sufferings he praises the Lord (v. 18). His mention
of Thessalonica, Galatia, Dalmatia, Ephesus, Troas, Corinth and Miletus
show how warmly he remembers places which were very receptive to the
Christian message. These few verses constitute a mini-biography.


His generosity of spirit is shown by the fact that he mentions so many
disciples by name; to all he gave of his best; some of them fell by the
wayside but most of them stayed faithful; some are mentioned in the
Acts of the Apostles or in other letters, but for others this is the
only mention in the New Testament. However, all without exception must
have been very present to the Apostle who became "all things to all
men, that I might by all means save some" (1 Cor 9:22).


16-17. St Paul points to the contrast between the way men treat him and
the way God does. Because of the hazards involved in staying with Paul
or defending him, some of his friends, even some of his closest
friends, have deserted him; whereas God stays by his side.


"You seek the company of friends who, with their conversation and
affection, with their friendship, make the exile of this world more
bearable for you. There is nothing wrong with that, although friends
sometimes let you down. But how is it you don't frequent daily with
greater intensity the company, the conversation, of the great Friend,
who never lets you down?" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 88).

---

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

[Salvation]

From: Matthew 16:13-19:


Peter's Profession of Faith and His Primacy

---

[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."

---

Commentary:


13-20. In this passage St. Peter is promised primacy over the whole
Church, a primacy which Jesus will confer on him after His
Resurrection, as we learn in the Gospel of St. John (cf. John
21:15-18). This supreme authority is given to Peter for the benefit of
the Church. Because the Church has to last until the end of time, this
authority will be passed on to Peter's successors down through
history. The Bishop of Rome, the Pope, is the successor of Peter.


The solemn Magisterium of the Church, in the First Vatican Council,
defined the doctrine of the primacy of Peter and his successors in
these terms:


"We teach and declare, therefore, according to the testimony of the
Gospel that the primacy of jurisdiction over the whole Church was
immediately and directly promised to and conferred upon the blessed
Apostle Peter by Christ the Lord. For to Simon, Christ had said, `You
shall be called Cephas' (John 1:42). Then, after Simon had
acknowledged Christ with the confession, `You are the Christ, the Son
of the living God' (Matthew 16:16), it was to Simon alone that the
solemn words were spoken by the Lord: `Blessed are you, Simon
Bar-Jona. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My
Father who is in Heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this
rock I will build My Church, and the powers of Hell shall not prevail
against it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and
whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and what you loose
on earth shall be loosed in Heaven' (Matthew 16:17-19). And after His
Resurrection, Jesus conferred upon Simon Peter alone the jurisdiction
of supreme shepherd and ruler over His whole fold with the words, `Feed
My lambs....Feed My sheep' (John 21:15-17) [...]


"(Canon) Therefore, if anyone says that the blessed Apostle Peter was
not constituted by Christ the Lord as the Prince of all the Apostles
and the visible head of the whole Church militant, or that he received
immediately and directly from Jesus Christ our Lord only a primacy of
honor and not a true and proper primacy of jurisdiction: let him be
condemned.


"Now, what Christ the Lord, Supreme Shepherd and watchful guardian of
the flock, established in the person of the blessed Apostle Peter for
the perpetual safety and everlasting good of the Church must, by the
will of the same, endure without interruption in the Church which was
founded on the rock and which will remain firm until the end of the
world. Indeed, `no one doubts, in fact it is obvious to all ages, that
the holy and most blessed Peter, Prince and head of the Apostles, the
pillar of faith, and the foundation of the Catholic Church, received
the keys of the kingdom from our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior and the
Redeemer of the human race; and even to this time and forever he
lives,' and governs, `and exercises judgment in his successors' (cf.
Council of Ephesus), the bishops of the holy Roman See, which he
established and consecrated with his blood. Therefore, whoever
succeeds Peter in this Chair holds Peter's primacy over the whole
Church according to the plan of Christ Himself [...]. For this reason,
`because of its greater sovereignty,' it was always `necessary for
every church, that is, the faithful who are everywhere, to be in
agreement' with the same Roman Church [...]


"(Canon) Therefore, if anyone says that it is not according to the
institution of Christ our Lord himself, that is, by divine law, that
St Peter has perpetual successors in the primacy over the whole Church;
or if anyone says that the Roman Pontiff is not the successor of St
Peter in the same primacy: let him be condemned.


"We think it extremely necessary to assert solemnly the prerogative
which the only-begotten Son of God deigned to join to the highest
pastoral office. "And so, faithfully keeping to the tradition received
from the beginning of the Christian faith, for the glory of God our
Savior, for the exaltation of the Catholic religion, and for the
salvation of Christian peoples, We, with the approval of the sacred
council, teach and define that it is a divinely revealed dogma: that
the Roman Pontiff, when he speaks "ex cathedra", that is, when, acting
in the office of shepherd and teacher of all Christians, he defines, by
virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, doctrine concerning faith or
morals to be held by the universal Church, possesses through the divine
assistance promised to him in the person of St. Peter, the
infallibility with which the divine Redeemer willed His Church to be
endowed in defining doctrine concerning faith or morals; and that such
definitions of the Roman Pontiff are therefore irreformable because of
their nature, but not because of the agreement of the Church.


"(Canon) But if anyone presumes to contradict this our definition (God
forbid him to do so): let him be condemned" (Vatican I, "Pastor
Aeternus", Chaps. 1, 2 and 4).

---

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

[Salvation]

Primacy of Peter bump -- straight from the Bible.

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."

[Salvation]

Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles (Solemnity)

First Reading: Psalm: Second Reading: Gospel:

Acts 12:1-11 Psalm 34:2-9 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 Matthew 16:13-19 She is the entrance to life; all the others are thieves and robbers. -- St Irenaeus

[Salvation]

SOLEMN BLESSING OF STS. PETER & PAUL

The Lord has set you firm within the Church,
which he built upon the rock of Peter’s faith.
May he bless you with a faith that never falters.
AMEN.

The Lord has give you knowledge of the faith
through the labors and teaching of St. Paul.
May his example inspire you to lead others to Christ
by the manner of your life.
AMEN.

May the keys of Peter, and the words of Paul
lead you to the joy of that eternal home
which Peter gained by his cross,
and Paul by the sword.
AMEN.

May God give you grace to follow saints Peter and Paul
in lives of faith, and hope, and love; and the blessing
of Almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you always.
AMEN.

[Salvation]

ST. PETER THE APOSTLE
Question from TOM WALKER on 05-05-2004:

WHEN AND HOW DID ST. PETER DIE AND WHERE IS IT DOCUMENTED IN THE BIBLE. THANK YOU TOM WALKER

Answer by Matthew Bunson on 05-05-2004:

It is difficult to know with absolutely certainty the dates of St. Peter’s pontificate, although there is no question that he made the decision to remain as Bishop of Rome until his death. Needless to say, it is thus equally difficult to know the exact day and month. St. Paul mentions Peter’s visit to Antioch (Gal 2:11-21), and it is clear that Peter did not remain in the city. Rather, having completed his work, he continued on to the next community to which he preached the Gospel. He may have visited Corinth, on the basis of a reference by Paul of a party of Cephas in that city's Christian community (1 Cor 1:12).

There is a long and accepted tradition connecting Peter with Rome. The saint himself makes apparent reference to being in the Eternal City in his first Epistle (5:13) by noting that he writes from Babylon, a common metaphor for Rome. St. Paul makes note of an Apostle in Rome before himself in Romans (15:20). It is known with certainty that Peter died in Rome and that his martyrdom came during the reign of Emperor Nero, probably around 64 or 67, but the exact date is hard to determine. He was most likely crucified – tradition states upside down as he had proclaimed himself unworthy to die as Jesus. The testimony of the writers of the early Church is quite extensive, including Origen (who, as told in Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History, reported that Peter was crucified upside down), Eusebius of Caesarea (who writes of Peter's pontificate as lasting some twenty-five years), St. Clement I of Rome, St. Ignatius, and St. Irenaeus. The latter, in his Adversus haereses (Against Heresies), is clear in stating that Peter founded the Church in Rome and what is Christian belief is that which is accepted by the Church in Rome, begun by Peter and Paul.

Thus, his pontificate lasted from the time that the diocese of Rome was established to his execution on Vatican Hill under Nero. He was then succeeded by St. Linus, whom he had named to follow him as leader of the Christians in Rome. Peter's feast day is June 29, with St. Paul.

---

[Salvation]

Catholic Culture

 

Collect: Lord our God, encourage us through the prayers of Saints Peter and Paul. May the apostles who strengthened the faith of the infant Church help us on our way of salvation. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Recipes: » Insalata Di Tarocci » Fillet of Flounder in Tomato Sauce » Fish Cake » Fish Salad more » Fish Salad » Mandryky » Salmon Mousse » St. Peter's Fish with Herbs less Activities: » Apostle Cookies » Family and Friends of Jesus Scrapbook Album » Feast of Saints Peter and Paul » Saints Peter and Paul more » St. Paul and the Epistle Charades » St. Peter less Prayers: » Litany of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles » Litany of Saint Paul the Apostle

June 29, 2005 Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, apostles Old Calendar: Holy Apostles Peter and Paul Veneration of the two great Apostles, Peter and Paul, has its roots in the very foundations of the Church. They are the solid rock on which the Church is built. They are at the origin of her faith and will forever remain her protectors and her guides. To them Rome owes her true greatness, for it was under God's providential guidance that they were led to make the capital of the Empire, sanctified by their martyrdom, the center of the Christian world whence should radiate the preaching of the Gospel. St. Peter suffered martyrdom under Nero, in A.D. 66 or 67. He was buried on the hill of the Vatican where recent excavations have revealed his tomb on the very site of the basilica of St. Peter's. St. Paul was beheaded in the via Ostia on the spot where now stands the basilica bearing his name. Down the centuries Christian people in their thousands have gone on pilgrimage to the tombs of these Apostles. In the second and third centuries the Roman Church already stood pre-eminent by reason of her apostolicity, the infallible truth of her teaching and her two great figures, Sts. Peter and Paul. St. Peter Peter's original name was Simon. Christ Himself gave him the name Cephas or Peter when they first met and later confirmed it. This name change was meant to show both Peter's rank as leader of the apostles and the outstanding trait of his character — Peter (in Hebrew Kephas) the Rock. Peter was born in Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee. Like his younger brother Andrew, he was a fisherman and dwelt at Capernaum. Peter's house often became the scene of miracles, since the Master would stay there whenever He was teaching in that locality. Together with his brothers John and Andrew, Peter belonged to the first of Jesus' disciples (John 1:40-50). After the miraculous draught of fish on the Sea of Galilee, Peter received his definitive call and left wife, family, and occupation to take his place as leader of the Twelve. Thereafter we find him continually at Jesus' side, whether it be as spokesman of the apostolic college (John 6:68; Matt. 16:16), or as one specially favored (e.g., at the restoration to life of Jairus' daughter, at the transfiguration, during the agony in the garden). His sanguine temperament often led him into hasty, unpremeditated words and actions; his denial of Jesus during the passion was a salutary lesson. It accentuated a weakness in his character and made him humble. After the ascension, Peter always took the leading role, exercising the office of chief shepherd that Christ had entrusted to him. He delivered the first sermon on Pentecost and received the first Gentiles into the Church (Cornelius; Acts 10:1). Paul went to Jerusalem "to see Peter." After his miraculous deliverance from prison (Easter, 42 A.D.), Peter "went to a different place," most probably to Rome. Details now become scanty; we hear of his presence at the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:1), and of his journey to Antioch (Gal. 2:11). It is certain that Peter labored in Rome as an apostle, that he was the city's first bishop, and that he died there as a martyr, bound to a cross (67 A.D.). According to tradition he also was the first bishop of Antioch. He is the author of two letters, the first Christian encyclicals. His burial place is Christendom's most famous shrine, an edifice around whose dome are inscribed the words: Tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam. Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch Patron: Against frenzy; bakers; bridge builders; butchers; clock makers; cobblers; Exeter College Oxford; feet problems; fever; fishermen; foot problems; harvesters; locksmiths; longevity; masons; net makers; papacy; Popes; ship builders; shipwrights; shoemakers; stone masons; Universal Church; watch makers; Poznan, Poland; Rome; Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi; Diocese of Las Vegas, Nevada; diocese of Marquette, Michigan; Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island; Diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Symbols: Two keys saltire; pastoral staff and two large keys; inverted cross; inverted cross and two keys saltie; crowing cock; fish; two swords; patriarchal cross and two keys slatire; two keys and a scroll; sword. Often portrayed as: Bald man, often with a fringe of hair on the sides and a tuft on top; book; keys; man crucified head downwards; man holding a key or keys; man robed as a pope and bearing keys and a double-barred cross. St. Paul Paul, known as Saul (his Roman name) before his conversion, was born at Tarsus in the Roman province of Silicia about two or three years after the advent of the Redeemer. He was the son of Jewish parents who belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, was reared according to the strict religious-nationalistic party of the Pharisees, and enjoyed the high distinction of Roman citizenship. As a youth he went to Jerusalem to become immersed in the Law and had as a teacher the celebrated Gamaliel. He acquired skill as a tent-maker, a work he continued even as an apostle. At the time of Jesus' ministry he no longer was at Jerusalem; neither did he see the Lord during His earthly-life. Upon returning to the Holy City, Paul discovered a flourishing Christian community and at once became its bitter opponent. When Stephen impugned Law and temple, Paul was one of the first at his stoning; thereafter his fiery personality would lead the persecution. Breathing threats of slaughter against the disciples of Jesus, he was hurrying to Damascus when the grace of God effected his conversion (about the year 34 A.D.; see January 25, Conversion of St. Paul). After receiving baptism and making some initial attempts at preaching, Paul withdrew into the Arabian desert (c. 34-37 A.D.), where he prepared himself for his future mission. During this retreat he was favored with special revelations, Christ appearing to him personally. Upon his return to Damascus he began to preach but was forced to leave when the Jews sought to kill him. Then he went to Jerusalem "to see Peter." Barnabas introduced him to the Christian community, but the hatred of the Jews again obliged him to take secret flight. The following years (38-42 A.D.) he spent at Tarsus until Barnabas brought him to the newly founded Christian community at Antioch, where both worked a year for the cause of Christ; in the year 44 he made another journey to Jerusalem with the money collected for that famine stricken community. The first major missionary journey (45-48) began upon his return as he and Barnabas brought the Gospel to Cyprus and Asia Minor (Acts 13-14). The Council of Jerusalem occasioned Paul's reappearance in Jerusalem (50). Spurred on by the decisions of the Council, he began the second missionary journey (51-53), traveling through Asia Minor and then crossing over to Europe and founding churches at Philippi, Thessalonia (his favorite), Berea, Athens, Corinth. He remained almost two years at Corinth, establishing a very flourishing and important community. In 54 he returned to Jerusalem for the fourth time. Paul's third missionary journey (54-58) took him to Ephesus, where he labored three years with good success; after visiting his European communities, he returned to Jerusalem for a fifth time (Pentecost, 58). There he was seized by the Jews and accused of condemning the Law. After being held as a prisoner for two years at Caesarea, he appealed to Caesar and was sent by sea to Rome (60 A.D.). Shipwrecked and delayed on the island of Malta, he arrived at Rome in the spring of 61 and passed the next two years in easy confinement before being released. The last years of the saint's life were devoted to missionary excursions, probably including Spain, and to revisiting his first foundations. In 66 he returned to Rome, was taken prisoner, and beheaded a year later. His fourteen letters are a precious legacy; they afford a deep insight into a great soul. Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch Patron: Against snakes; authors; Cursillo movement; evangelists; hailstorms; hospital public relations; journalists; lay people; missionary bishops; musicians; poisonous snakes; public relations personnel; public relations work; publishers; reporters; rope braiders; rope makers; saddlemakers; saddlers; snake bites; tent makers; writers; Malta; Rome; Poznan, Poland; newspaper editorial staff Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Diocese of Covington, Kentucky; Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama; Diocese of Las Vegas, Nevada; Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island; Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts; Symbols: Book and sword, three fountains; two swords; scourge; serpent and a fire; armour of God; twleve scrolls with names of his Epistles; phoenix; palm tree; shield of faith; sword; book. Often portrayed as: Thin-faced elderly man with a high forehead, receding hairline and long pointed beard; man holding a sword and a book; man with 3 springs of water nearby; Things to Do: From the Directory on Popular Piety, this feast is important because "it is always useful to teach the faithful to realize the importance and significance of the feasts of those Saints who have had a particular mission in the history of Salvation, or a singular relationship with Christ such as St. John the Baptist (24 June), St. Joseph (19 March), Sts. Peter and Paul (29 June), the Apostles and Evangelists, St. Mary Magdalen (22 July), St. Martha (29 July) and St. Stephen (26 December)." The Directory on Popular Piety also explains the devotion of the Christian Pilgrimage. During the Middle Ages in particular, "pilgrims came to Rome to venerate the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul, (ad Limina Apostolorum), the catacombs and basilicas, in recognition of the service rendered to the universal Church by the successor of Peter." Besides the recipes in our database, Cooking With the Saints by Ernst Schuegraf has 7 recipes alone for the feast of St. Peter. This is a wonderful book, beautifully illustrated with art of the saints and the actual dishes. This would be a great addition to your liturgical year library. Learn more about St. Paul, read Paul of Tarsus

[pieces of time]

EWTN will be rebroadcasting the celebration Mass of the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul from the Vatican at 12 noon and 10:00PM (ET)

[Salvation]

Thanks for those times!

[Salvation]

Homily of the Day

Homily of the Day

Title:	Heroes Aren't Born, They're Made!
Author:	Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Date:	Wednesday, June 28, 2005

Acts 12:1-11/2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18/Mt 16:13-19

A salesman rang the doorbell at a rather fine suburban home, and the door was answered by a nine-year-old boy who was puffing on a long black cigar! Hiding his amazement, the salesman asked, "Is your mother home?"

The boy took the cigar out of his mouth, flicked the ash on the carpet, and asked, "What do YOU think?"

+ + +

That nine-year-old has a long way to go before he's finished. So do we all. And in the process we get an awful lot of things wrong, before we get them right. The two heroes we celebrate on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul are perfect examples of that.

Peter, the first pope, spent a good part of his life trying to remember that it's only a closed mouth that gathers no foot! Year in and year out, he talked first and thought later. He promised undying loyalty to Jesus and within hours denied he even knew him. He was on the wrong side of the debate about whether to let non-Jews become Christians! And yet in the end, he was a rock for his fellow Christians to lean on; and he gave his life for them.

Paul, on the other hand, was a perfectionist. He wanted to be perfect, and thought he could be, and his imperfections drove him crazy. So he compensated by attacking other people's imperfections: And while he was still a Jew, that meant killing Christians! Even after his conversion, he was often a whiner and a self-righteous bore. And yet in the end, he finally let go of playing perfect, and instead let God BE God for him. He learned to relax in the Lord, and IN the Lord he found the strength to do whatever was needed, and that included giving his life.

Heroes aren't born; they're made — very slowly, with the help of God's grace. Today, as we celebrate the triumph of God's grace in Peter and Paul, we're also celebrating that we too can become great — each in our own way. And we're rejecting all those lying fears that keep telling us we're stuck forever with what we are today, all those fears that tell us even God can't grow us bigger on the inside, even GOD can't make us great.

God CAN and God WILL grow us great, if we lay aside fear and let him touch us, let him heal all those places deep within us that are hurt or sick or broken. God can do for us what he did for Peter and for Paul, if we trust him enough to let him in, and if we work with him till the work is truly done.

It's never too late, so let us begin again. And this time, with God's help, let's not stop till we're done!

 

[Ciexyz]

I recommend the TV movie "Peter and Paul", made approx. 1980, starring Anthony Hopkins as Paul and Robert Foxworth as Peter. You may be able to find a VHS copy in your library or church library, maybe even in some video outlets.

[Ciexyz]

Faith-sharing bump.

[Salvation]

Thanks for that suggestion. I had forgotten all about that movie.

[Salvation]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SaltyJoe]

Yesterday and today's readings carry a message of men escaping physical death (Lot leaves Sodom, St Pete leaves prison). But, we are also witnessing Christ's message that mankind can escape spiritual death via Christ's Grace.

[Smartass]

THANKS FOR THE PING

[Salvation]

Very true!

Do you think the Canadians are listening?

[lightman]

Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all persons according to their needs.

We praise you, O God, Holy Lord of power and might.
Sustain your Church in the confession of faith proclaimed by the glorious company of apostles,
the noble fellowship of prophets,
and the white-robed army of martyrs.
Lord, in your mercy,Hear our prayer.

All creation worships you, eternal God.
Teach your people to sing endless praise to you
with all angels and powers of heaven,
and to care for the earth you have made for our home. Lord, in your mercy,Hear our prayer.

The whole Church acclaims you:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Father of majesty unbounded,
empower those baptized in the triune name
to reflect the love expressed
in the life, death, and resurrection
of your true and only Son,
who is worthy of all praise.
Lord, in your mercy,Hear our prayer.

We sing to you, Holy Spirit, advocate, and guide.
Lead us to seek peace and justice for all people.
Lord, in your mercy,Hear our prayer.

You, Christ, are the king of glory.
You overcame the sting of death.
Through us, your servants,
come to all who are hungry or thirsty
or naked or sick or in prison.
Lord, in your mercy,Hear our prayer.

You opened the kingdom of heaven to allbelievers.
Help those who do not know your grace,
bring them to faith.
Lord, in your mercy,Hear our prayer.

We believe that you will come and be our judge.
Save us in that time of trial
and deliver us from the evil one. Lord, in your mercy,Hear our prayer.

Come, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting
where you live and reign now and for ever.

[Salvation]

 

 

A Voice in the Desert

 

 

Wednesday June 29, 2005   Feast of Saints Peter and Paul

Reading I (Acts 12:1-11)   Reading II (2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18)

Gospel (St. Matthew 16:13-19)

 In the Gospel reading today, we hear this very famous passage from Matthew 16 as Jesus brings His disciples up to Caesarea Philippi to the headwaters of the Jordan River, which was also a place of pagan worship. In the cliff that is right there, there are niches built in where the pagans had all their little shrines, statues of their little gods and goddesses, all along the way. So Jesus brings them to this place with all of these little gods (a Pantheon, if you will) and says, Who do you say that the Son of Man is? “Am I one of these little gods, or am I God?” Peter is the one who speaks up and says, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus blesses him. 

Now the question is: Who do we say that He is? When we look at Peter and Paul, as we celebrate their feast today, we see Saint Peter being thrown into prison in the first reading. The angel of the Lord comes and frees him from prison and brings him back out into the city. We see Paul telling us that God has rescued him from the mouth of the lion, and God will continue, he says, to rescue him from every evil threat and bring him safely to His heavenly kingdom. We also know that Peter was crucified and Paul was decapitated. “If this is the case,” we might ask, “Why didn’t God protect them?” He did. God brought them safely to His heavenly kingdom, and it was precisely through their martyrdom that they gave God the greatest glory. Even though they preached the Gospel all around the known world at the time, what gave God more glory even than that was that they were willing to lay down their lives for Him. They knew that He was God. They made their profession of faith that He was God. And they trusted. Indeed, God had freed them so that they could do the work He had set them aside to do. But when the final moment of their life came, they still had to make the same act of faith. Who do you say that the Son of Man is? They still believed and professed that faith to the very end of their lives and professed it now with their blood. And God freed them. He did not free them from the fact that they would suffer martyrdom, but He freed them from the shackles that held them bound to this world so they could be free for eternity.  

So now we ask the question: Who do you say that the Son of Man is? If you say, as you look at all the little false gods that this world has to offer, “You’re just like anybody else,” then of what sense is it? But if we can say with Peter, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God, then the question that I would ask is: Then why don’t we trust Him? Why don’t we trust Him? Because the reality is that in most of our lives we do not. We profess that He is God, but we do not really trust Him. At which point, we really have to ask: Then what do we believe? We want to be sprung from prison – notice that Peter had to sit there until the very night before His trial. God did not keep him from going to prison, nor did He spring him immediately. Paul, remember, was whipped, beaten, stoned, and shipwrecked. God freed him from all the trials but did not free him from ever having to undergo them. Finally, as we have already seen, both of them endured martyrdom, their last and greatest act of witness to Christ. Should we expect it will be any different for us? Saint Paul, at the end of his life, says that he has fought the fight, he has run the race, and he has kept the faith. Will we be able to say the same? Would we be able to say with Saint Paul, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat”?  

Will we trust Him? Will we really believe and live that act of faith that we make? Who do you say that the Son of Man is? Be careful of your answer, because once that answer comes forth, you must live your life in accordance with the answer that you give. And we know what the answer is. With Peter, we need to say, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 

*  This text was transcribed from the audio recording with minimal editing.

[Ciexyz]

Prayers requested for a personal health concern. Does anyone else suffer with swollen ankles in this weather? I went to the doctor and he prescribed water pills, on a temporary basis.

[Salvation]

Who do you say that the Son of Man is?

[Ciexyz]

Come, Lord, and help your people

Makes one think of the scripture: They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength, They will mount up with wings of eagles

[lightman]

The prayer is based on the canticle Te Deum which according to tradition was sung spontaneously by St. Augustine at the moment of his Baptism by St. Anselm. That canticle is filled with scriptural allusions and phrases borrowed from the Nicene Creed and the Gloria.

[Smartass]

Your retaining water. Watch your salt intake.

[Salvation]

Benedict XVI's Homily for Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

[Salvation]

Wednesday, June 29, 2005 Meditation 2 Timothy 4:6-8,17-18 From the first day of his public ministry, Jesus’ goal was to gather into one the family of God. Peter and Paul, whose solemnity the church celebrates today, each received a specific call from Jesus and each gave his life in testimony to Jesus. And because of their faith and surrender to Christ, their deaths contributed to the spreading of Jesus’ mission of unity and salvation. Peter, a fisherman from Galilee, received a call to follow Jesus while casting his net for a catch. He left his family and his business to become a fisher of men (Matthew 4:18-22). His mission was the evangelization of the Jews, the chosen people of Israel. Paul also was called, but in a more dramatic manner. This zealous persecutor of the church had a revelation of Christ, who acknowledged himself as the one Paul was persecuting (Acts 9:5). A short time later, a converted Paul was preaching publicly that Jesus “is the Son of God” (9:20). While Peter had a mandate for evangelization of the Jews, Paul was the chosen apostle to the Gentiles. Through the new covenant that was sealed in the blood of Jesus, God is creating a new people to be one in him. Those who were not his own he has made his own (Romans 9:25). His desire is for “a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds” (Titus 2:14), who are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,” and who will proclaim his mighty acts in calling them “out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). Brothers and sisters, we are those special people. Our individual calling is to be part of the church and its mission. Its fulfillment is no less important than that of the apostles we celebrate today. God uses each of us in a different way, but when we respond in the way he calls, marvelous things happen throughout the church. In prayer today, rejoice in the work of God through Peter and Paul and in that of all others (including yourself) who followed them. “O, God, in obedience to your call, Peter raised up the church from the faithful flock of Israel and Paul from the gentile nations. Empower us to obey the call to build your church by proclaiming in word and deed the good news of salvation.” Acts 12:1-11; Psalm 34:2-9; Matthew 16:13-19

[annalex]

Mt 16:13-19
#	Douay-Rheims	Vulgate
13	And Jesus came into the quarters of Cesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: Whom do men say that the Son of man is?	venit autem Iesus in partes Caesareae Philippi et interrogabat discipulos suos dicens quem dicunt homines esse Filium hominis
14	But they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets.	at illi dixerunt alii Iohannem Baptistam alii autem Heliam alii vero Hieremiam aut unum ex prophetis
15	Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?	dicit illis vos autem quem me esse dicitis
16	Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.	respondens Simon Petrus dixit tu es Christus Filius Dei vivi
17	And Jesus answering said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.	respondens autem Iesus dixit ei beatus es Simon Bar Iona quia caro et sanguis non revelavit tibi sed Pater meus qui in caelis est
18	And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.	et ego dico tibi quia tu es Petrus et super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam et portae inferi non praevalebunt adversum eam
19	And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.	et tibi dabo claves regni caelorum et quodcumque ligaveris super terram erit ligatum in caelis et quodcumque solveris super terram erit solutum in caelis

[annalex]

Madonna and Child Enthroned with Presentation of the Keys to St. Peter, with Saints John of Capistrano, Emidius, Francis, Louis of Toulouse, James of the Marches, and an Unidentified Bishop.

Carlo Crivelli, 1488
Wood panel. Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, Germany.

[annalex]

tu es Petrus et super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam [...] et tibi dabo claves regni caelorum

These verses are the scriptural basis of the primacy of the Pope and the power of the Church to define Christian doctrine.

Among the apostles, St. Peter is the only one to give a correct profession of faith. The Scripture sets him apart from other apostles, who are prototypical bishops. Since then, Peter has authority among the apostles despite his weakness of temperament. He is the first to greet the resurrected Christ, he is charged with the pastoral task to feed and guide Christ's sheep, he advances new doctrine as he rescinds the dietetic laws, and he settles disputes in Acts. This is the role of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, among other bishops, who may councel and contradict the Pope but submit to his final authority.

The rock metaphore is used to to signify Peter's unshakable faith. He also receives a new name from Christ, like Abraham and Israel did before him. This tells us that we are dealing with a new historical era, just like the profession of Abraham marked the reign of God among men and the blessing of Jacob marked the covenant of the Jews.

It is noteworthy that faith, not strength of character and not intellectual prowess, is what distinguished Peter. In the very next instance, Peter naively repeats the temptation of Satan as he suggests to Christ that the sacrifice of the Cross should be avoided. Later, in fear, he will deny his association with Christ, but he never denies his faith.

The keys to Heaven signify the key role that the Church plays in the economy of salvation. Its meaning is twofold. First, the keys open to door to our justification. As the Church fathers taught, ex ecclesia no salus, -- no salvation outside the Church. But also, the keys are used to bind and loose, that is to settle dogmatic disputes and promulgate doctrine. When the Church advances a teaching that has a weak scruptural foundation, -- for example, Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary has no direct scriptural support since the scripture says nothing about her birth and childhood, -- it does so under the power to "bind and loose".

Note that Christ makes a promise to follow the determinations of the Church, as He is saying, -- If you decide something on Earth, I will implement your decision in Heaven. This seals the spousal relationship between Christ and His Church, as the two are now united by the mutual bond of fidelity.

[Salvation]

Feast of SS. Peter and Paul, June 29

[Salvation]

American Cathlic's Saint of the Day

June 29, 2005

Sts. Peter and Paul

(d. 64 & 67)

Peter: 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 Gethsemane. His mother-in-law was cured by Jesus. He was sent with John to prepare for the last Passover before Jesus' death. His name is first on every list of apostles.

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 nether world 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 veracity 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.

Paul: If Billy Graham suddenly began preaching that the United States should adopt Marxism and not rely on the Constitution, the angry reaction would help us understand Paul's life when he started preaching that Christ alone can save us. He had been the most Pharisaic of Pharisees, the most legalistic of Mosaic lawyers. Now he suddenly appears to other Jews as a heretical welcomer of Gentiles, a traitor and apostate.

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 to Damascus was the driving force that made him one of the most zealous, dynamic and courageous ambassadors of Christ the Church has ever had. But persecution, humiliation and weakness became his day-by-day carrying of the cross, material for further transformation. The dying Christ was in him; the living Christ was his life.

[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

 

<< Wednesday, June 29, 2005 >>

Sts. Peter & Paul

Acts 12:1-11
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18

Psalm 34
Matthew 16:13-19

View Readings

ATTACK!

“The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” —Matthew 16:18, KJV

I heard a priest give a homily on the above passage. He commented that gates are for defensive purposes only. Gates do not attack; they defend. When was the last time you heard about a gate attacking someone? This means that evil is to defend itself against us, not vice versa. We, the members of the Church of God, are to be on the offense, as Saints Peter and Paul repeatedly have shown us.

On the cross, Jesus definitively defeated Satan and his kingdom of darkness. On his way back to defeat and hell, Satan, in his fury, is trying to cause as many casualties as he can and damage God’s kingdom as much as possible. We are in the mop-up phase of the cosmic, spiritual war. Although we must be careful not to cause others to become casualties or become casualties ourselves, we cannot allow ourselves to be intimidated (Mt 10:26) or manipulated into abandoning the offensive. We, the members of the church on earth, are called the “church militant” for a reason: we are to press the attack knowing that the stationary gates of hell “shall not prevail against” us (Mt 16:18). We wield “the weapons of righteousness” (2 Cor 6:7), and the weapons of prayer and fasting (Gospel of Life, Pope John Paul II, 100) are the most effective. Attack the gates of hell with the weapons of prayer, fasting, redemptive suffering, evangelization, eucharistic adoration, praise, teaching, and love. “Fight hard for the faith” (Jude 3).

Prayer: Father, I will fight “the good fight” (2 Tm 4:7) for You.

Promise: “The Lord stood by my side and gave me strength.” —2 Tm 4:17

Praise: Sts. Peter and Paul, two very diverse apostles, worked in unity, giving one another “the handclasp of fellowship” as a sign of their common bond to spread the good news of Jesus (Gal 2:9).

[SaltyJoe]

"Do you think the Canadians are listening?"

It's something for everyone to consider:

If the God-fearing doesn't have the legs to walk up hills and mountains, then they should not be ashamed to ask God for sanctuary at a small village beyond a wicked city.

Please reference Lot's request to flee to Zoar.

But, if commanded to move, please remember that God will give you strength "to run and not grow weary".