Texts taken from the Missalette “On Your Word” May-June 2024
Saints Peter and Paul, apostles (feast)
proper texts
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 being carried there every day and placed at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate, to beg from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Then Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, «Look at us». He turned his gaze toward them, hoping to receive something from them. Peter said, «I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk!» Then he took him by the right hand and raised him up. Immediately his feet and ankles grew strong; he sprang up, stood and began to walk, and went into the temple with them, walking and jumping about and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the one who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. – The word of the Lord.
Commentary on the first reading
If we wanted to give this passage from the Acts of the Apostles a title, we could write: Grace heals. As Peter and John go up to the temple for the public prayer of the ninth hour, they encounter a cripple who begs for charity in front of the Beautiful Gate. That poor man, like every poor person, is not merely an opportunity for a good deed, but an opportunity to establish a personal relationship: «Look at us», Peter says to him. And then those surprising words: «I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk!» The one who heals is Jesus, and in his name Peter performs the miracle, which proves to everyone the truth of the salvation he proclaims. The healed cripple joins the apostles in prayer: he is not content with regaining his health, but feels the need for salvation. We often hear it said: when you have your health, you have everything; yet how many people are bursting with health and are still unhappy! When there is salvation, which is health of body and spirit, there is everything. We need to be saved in our diseased limbs and from sin.
SECOND READING
From the Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Galatians (Gal 1:11-20)
Brothers and sisters, I assure you that the Gospel preached by me is not of human origin. For I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it, and progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my people, since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions. But when God, who from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; rather, I went off to Arabia and then returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days. But I did not see any other of the apostles, except James the brother of the Lord. In what I am writing to you, before God, I am not lying. – The word of the Lord.
Commentary on the second reading
One fact is indisputably certain: the turning point in Paul’s life during his journey toward Damascus. At the beginning of the Letter to the Galatians, Paul recounts his change with these words: «For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it… But when God, who from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace…». According to Paul’s own account, the great conversion consisted in the passage from persecutor to apostle of the One whom he had previously persecuted so fiercely. Given the circumstances, nothing seemed capable of bringing about such a significant change in Paul’s life, but then the unexpected happened. Paul was not a repentant sinner who suddenly rediscovered the path of goodness, nor was he an agnostic who eventually accepted God and a religious vision of reality. His was a conversion to Christ, discovered through the eyes of faith as the cornerstone of human destiny. The change in his life was simply a consequence.
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 finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, «Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?» He said to him, «Yes, Lord, you know that I love you». He said to him, «Feed my lambs». He then said to him a second time, «Simon, son of John, do you love me?» He said to 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 said to him a third time, «Do you love me?», and he said to him, «Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you». Jesus said to 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 signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, «Follow me». – The word of the Lord.
Commentary on the Gospel of the day
Three times the Lord asks Peter to openly proclaim his love. Why? Certainly not to humiliate him. Jesus knows that this is a very important need of Peter: Peter had denied him three times, and three times, in front of everyone, Jesus invites him to proclaim his love. Each proclamation of love is followed by a precise command from Jesus: «Feed my little sheep», which essentially means: «Give proof that you love me by devoting yourself to your brothers and sisters, becoming an instrument of salvation for them». With Peter’s third solemn declaration, Jesus truly asks everything of him, no less than the offering of his life: «He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him: Follow me». Our love cannot be vague; Jesus demands concrete love: after being at the feet of the Lord, we must rise with a precise verification of our love in our hands, a specific gift, a specific conversion. And we must be careful that it is not a gift chosen only by us, but truly chosen by him and matured in prayer. Peter probably would have given something else to the Lord; instead, the Lord asks him to feed his flock, even to the point of giving his life.
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. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he had Peter arrested as well. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. He had him arrested 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 being held in prison, while the Church prayed fervently to God for him. On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by two chains and guarded by two soldiers, was sleeping, while guards before the doors kept watch over the prison. Suddenly, an 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 fasten your sandals». He did so. Then he said to him, «Put on your cloak and follow me». Peter went out and followed him, although he did not realize 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 into the city, which opened for them by itself. They went out and walked down a street, and suddenly the angel left him. 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». – The word of the Lord.
Commentary on the first reading
At the center of this passage from Acts is the prayer of the Church, rising unceasingly to God to implore Peter’s liberation. This is the attitude with which the early Christian community faces danger and persecution. The Lord hears the prayer of his Church and brings about an unimaginable and unexpected liberation by sending his angel. The reference to liberation from slavery in Egypt is absolutely clear: as happened at the first Passover, here too the main action is performed by the angel of the Lord, who frees Peter. Likewise, what Peter does immediately after being freed - getting up quickly, putting on his belt, fastening his sandals - is what the chosen people did on the night of liberation, when they hurriedly ate the lamb with their loins girded, sandals on their feet and staff in hand, ready to leave the land of Egypt. This is Peter’s Passover, and he can exclaim: «Now I know for certain that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod». In the angel’s final invitation, «Put on your cloak and follow me!», we hear an echo of Jesus’ initial call, later repeated on the Sea of Tiberias: «Follow me».
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 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 me on that day - and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. 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 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. – The word of the Lord.
Commentary on the second reading
Saint Paul feels that death is near and that soon his life will be poured out as a libation. In this situation of danger and trial, his faith and the joy of being a disciple of Christ do not fail; he is able to go toward him, to the point of seeing death not as a loss but as gain: «The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom». The great apostle to the Gentiles has finished the race: just as an athlete longs for the finish line and strains toward victory, so Paul is entirely intent on receiving the crown of righteousness that never fades. At the end of his life he can exclaim: «The Lord stood by me and gave me strength… and I was rescued from the lion’s mouth». We too, as disciples, need to experience this strength, utterly beyond our own abilities, especially in the most difficult and exhausting moments. We too, if we accept becoming disciples wholeheartedly, are given the experience of liberation and fraternal communion as a sign and seal of our journey of following.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Matthew (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». – The word of the Lord.
Commentary on the Gospel of the day
Jesus wants to challenge each of the disciples personally. There are moments when one realizes that knowing the Lord has not yet become a face-to-face relationship with him. You realize, that is, that the word is not yet within you; it is a word you love, but “you have not yet eaten the scroll of the Word”. It is an approach that is more aesthetic than rooted; there are moments when you sense that you must move toward new regions. «But who do you say that I am?», Jesus asks. «You are the Christ, the Son of the living God», Peter replies. Immediately afterward comes a commission that is absolutely premature in light of the reliability Peter can demonstrate about himself: «You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church». Jesus’ gift always precedes our ability to guarantee it. The Lord always takes the first step and offers us trust before we are even able to show that we deserve it. This is precisely what draws us into continual thanksgiving. This gratuitousness deeply marks the disciple’s life and helps him bear his own fragility better. Like Peter, we say: «You are the Christ», and like Paul, we repeat: «I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me».
