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Sunday Scripture Study

The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles- Cycle A

June 29, 2014

Sunday Scripture Study

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Opening Prayer

First Reading: Acts 12:1-11

Psalm: 34:2-9

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

Gospel Reading: Matthew 16:13-19

This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter, head of the 12 Apostles and the first Pope, was martyred for the Faith by being crucified upside-down in Rome. St. Paul, who was at first a persecutor of the early Church, became its most zealous Apostle, traveling throughout the Roman Empire preaching the Good News and writing what would become much of the New Testament. He was also martyred in Rome by beheading.

This Sunday’s Gospel reading highlights Simon Peter and his profession of Faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus changes Simon name to Peter (that is, “Rock”) signifying that the Church will be built with Peter as its sure foundation.

Jesus also confers primacy upon him— “the keys of the kingdom”—earthly authority over Christ’s Church, with the power to bind and loose. Therefore whatever judgments he makes on earth concerning faith and morals will also be ratified in heaven. This authority will in turn be passed down to Peter’s successors all the way down to the present Pope.

QUESTIONS:

In the first reading, how did early believers fight against persecution? Why do you think the Jerusalem Church responded with prayer instead of following Jesus’ injunction in Mt 10:23? If a similar persecution were to break out here, what do you think the Church’s response should be?

Knowing what we do about the fates of St. Peter and Paul, how does the second reading apply to them?

In the Gospel, why did people think that Jesus was John the Baptist, Elijah or Jeremiah?

If you asked the typical person today, “Who is Jesus Christ?” what would they say? How would you explain who he is to them?

What was significant about Peter’s confession?

What do we believe about the insight (verse 17), power (verse 18), and authority (verse 19) given to Peter? What are the “keys of the kingdom”? What do they bind and loose?

What is your attitude to the legitimate authority of the Church as ordained by Jesus Christ? Do you need to do to cultivate a spirit of humility and obedience to Christ and to the servant leadership of his Church?

From today’s readings, what do you think are the traits of each Apostle (Peter: Matthew 16:13-19; Acts 12:1-11 and Paul: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18) that are most worthy of our imitation? How can you imitate those traits this week?

Closing Prayer

Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§ 440, 424, 442, 153, 881, 552, 869

“The whole company of saints bears witness to the unfailing truth that without real effort no one wins the crown.” --St. Thomas Becket

Who Do You Say That I Am?

Pastor’s Column

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

June 29, 2014

Jesus and his disciples have entered Caesarea Philippi, a Roman town in Galilee that was filled with pagan shrines. Jesus led the disciples there to get away from the Jewish crowds. While in the midst of casual conversation, Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do people say I am?” The answers come quickly, none of them quite accurate. Perhaps the disciples were laughing. Then the conversation lags for a moment as Jesus looks directly at the twelve: "And who do YOU say that I am?”

Who do you say that Jesus is? Most of us, if asked this question, would reply “Jesus is the Lord” or “The Son of God.” But is he really? One way that we can tell if Jesus is the Lord of our lives is by how we speak. Try listening to yourself for a week. Do I tend to speak ill of others? If that person could overhear me, would I have to change the subject? Do I tend to use vulgar or obscene words?

Am I a thankful person or a complainer? Do I speak one way in public and another way in private? One of the greatest spiritual weapons that we can add to our arsenal is silence. Oftentimes the best thing to say is actually nothing.

One of my good friends, who is a nun, once told me what she used to help her keep quiet when she was driving. She had a tendency to gripe about other drivers. So she put a sign on the car seat that she could see just before she sat down: “Be holy. Shut up!” Must I really criticize that person? And, when I complain, doesn’t it actually make things worse? Must I tell everyone what so and so did to me or that gossip I have heard? Exterior silence or keeping quiet is a great tool for growing in holiness and having a more peaceful life.

Jesus also wants to be Lord of what goes on inside our heads. Keeping interior silence means learning to quiet that interior dialogue, especially what is harmful or negative toward ourselves or others. Many saints have learned a great secret: much peace can be gained by turning off the destructive dialogue. Someone may have hurt us deeply. We keep going over their painful words and deeds in our minds, over and over. Meanwhile, the person who has hurt us has gone on their merry way and could not care less about it! Not only does this nurture un-forgiveness in our hearts, which is a sin, but it harms us both physically and spiritually.

Instead, when we become aware that we have begun thinking these destructive thoughts, we can replace them immediately with a picture of the Lord Jesus entering right into that hurtful scene, looking at us and motioning for us to be quiet, for this is how he responded toward those who hurt him. Thus, even our most painful experiences can become a secret prayer shared by Jesus.

Father Gary