Today the Church celebrates Saints Peter and Paul in a single feast, the two pillars who made the community of Rome great. Two disciples who, each according to his own sensibility, rendered great service to the Lord. What a great gift from God they were! Today let us pray for Pope Francis.
Saints Peter and Paul, apostles (feast)
proper
Texts taken from the missal “On Your Word” May-June 2021
AT THE EVENING MASS OF THE VIGIL
FIRST READING
From the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 3:1-10)
In those days, Peter and John were going up to the temple for the prayer at three in the afternoon. A man crippled from birth was usually carried there; they placed him every day at the temple gate called Beautiful, to ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asked them for alms. Then Peter, together with John, fixed his gaze on him and said: «Look at us». And he turned to look at them, hoping to receive something from them. Peter said to him: «I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk!». He took him by the right hand and raised him up. Immediately his feet and ankles grew strong and, leaping to his feet, he began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking, jumping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God and recognized him as the one who used to sit and beg for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
SECOND READING
From the Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Galatians (Gal 1:11-20)
Brothers, I assure you that the Gospel proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it, but through a revelation of Jesus Christ. You have certainly heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God violently and tried to destroy it, and progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my people, since I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult anyone, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before me; instead, I went to Arabia and then returned to Damascus. After three years I went up to Jerusalem to get to know Cephas and stayed with him for fifteen days; but I did not see any other Apostle except James, the brother of the Lord. In what I am writing to you - before God, I do not lie.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to John (Jn 21:15-19)
[After he had manifested himself risen to his disciples,] when they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter: «Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?». He answered him: «Yes, Lord, you know that I love you». He said to him: «Feed my lambs». He said to him again, a second time: «Simon, son of John, do you love me?». He answered him: «Yes, Lord, you know that I love you». He said to him: «Tend my sheep». He said to him the third time: «Simon, son of John, do you love me?». Peter was distressed that he had asked him a third time, «Do you love me?», and he said to him: «Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you». Jesus answered him: «Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go». He said this to indicate by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he added: «Follow me».
AT THE MASS OF THE DAY
FIRST READING
From the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 12:1-11)
At that time King Herod began to persecute some members of the Church. He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword. And when he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. It was during the days of the Unleavened Bread. He had him taken into custody and thrown into prison, handing him over to four squads of four soldiers each, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. Peter was thus kept in prison, but constant prayer was made by the Church to God for him. On the night before Herod was to bring him before the people, Peter, secured by two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards before the doors were keeping watch over the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell. He touched Peter’s side, awakened him and said: «Get up quickly!». And the chains fell from his hands. The angel said to him: «Put on your belt and fasten your sandals». He did so. Then he said to him: «Put on your cloak and follow me!». Peter went out and followed him, but he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision instead. They passed the first guard and the second and came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them by itself. They went out and walked along one street, and suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself 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».
Commentary on the first reading
The text from the Acts of the Apostles (Mass of the Day) shows how Peter already had a fundamental role in the life of the early Christian community of Jerusalem: the entire Church’s prayer rises for its shepherd, who is in prison. The Apostle, even though in chains, sleeps because he is certain that he is never alone: the community is praying for him, and the Lord is near him. The power of the Church’s constant prayer rises to God; he hears it and brings about an unimaginable and unexpected liberation by sending his angel. Only prayer loosens chains. And so, just as happened for Peter in prison, many doors that separate us would open, and many chains that paralyze us would fall. Yes, the Lord hears the prayer that rises from our hearts and frees us from every fear and every chain so that we may face life’s difficulties with strength. Constant and unanimous prayer is a precious instrument for breaking the chains that prevent us from soaring high; only being deeply united with God enables us to bear witness to the miracle of God’s love.
SECOND READING
From the Second Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to Timothy (2 Tim 4:6-8, 17-18)
My son, I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, 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 me on that day - and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance with love. But 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 so I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Commentary on the second reading
Paul too is in prison, awaiting a death sentence. Writing to Timothy, he gives us words that are truly moving and full of wisdom. Abandoned by everyone, he has lost none of his faith. In fact, he senses that death is drawing near, yet he does not use the word “death”; instead, he uses a series of expressions born from the fact that, from the moment this apostle was converted and called on the road to Damascus, his existence acquired an entirely new dimension. The Lord’s closeness, the race for the Gospel, continual struggles, shed blood, the battles of the good fight: all this has characterized his faith. He does not say how many people he converted, how many Christian communities he founded, or how much good he did, but only that he kept the faith, because for him faith is the basis and foundation of his life. If Paul is near death, his gaze is directed toward the future, which for him is not death, but the crown and the eternal kingdom. He, who lived for others, thinks that many who came to believe through him will be with him in the Kingdom. We are among them too: this is the wish we make for one another.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 16:13-19)
At that time, when Jesus came to 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 you, who do you say that I am?». Simon Peter replied: «You are the Christ, the Son of the living God». And Jesus said to him: «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».
Commentary on the Gospel of the day
Christ confirms Peter’s profession of faith, since it is not a natural intuition or human knowledge, but a gift from the Father. For this reason, the confession of the mystery of communion between the Father and the Son stands at the foundation of ecclesial life and makes Peter a rock upon which the community is built. Peter has entered into the mystery of Trinitarian love; therefore, the gates of death will not prevail over the community. The Church will survive the passage of time and remain firm against every assault of evil because it is anchored in Peter and in the strength of his testimony of faith. Understanding Jesus’ identity is the true reason why the Apostle receives the task of guiding the community of believers. Having the keys, binding and loosing are not arbitrary powers, but mean admitting into the Father’s communion those who seek God with a sincere heart, while also excluding those who place themselves outside this communion. Therefore, Peter’s primacy finds its origin and true meaning in adherence to the revelation of the mystery of God in Christ.
