The feast day of the Apostles Peter and Paul is celebrated in both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches
Invitation
May I hereby draw your attention to
the daily reading of the Gospel?
This invitation wants to share with you the joy of the Gospel.
Everyone, no one except,
can experience this joy by opening his heart
to the healing effect of God’s word.
Available every day
Consideration
The first reading tells how Peter is taken prisoner by Herod, with a view to his condemnation. This suggests the worst, for earlier James, the brother of John, had been killed by the king. While Peter was locked up in the dungeon, the Church prayed fervently for him. God answers the prayer of his Church and Peter is miraculously saved by God’s loving assistance.
In the second reading, Paul testifies of a similar experience. He too is protected and redeemed by God; he too can count on God’s helping power. On this feast, we celebrate Peter and Paul precisely because they – after struggle and conversion – went the way of Jesus.
FIRST READING Acts 12, 1-11
Now I know for certain that the Lord has delivered me
from the power of Herod.
From the Acts of the Apostles
In those days
King Herod laid his hands on some members of the Church
and maltreated them.
He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.
Seeing that this pleased the Jews, he also had Peter imprisoned.
It was in the days of unleavened bread.
When he had got hold of him
he threw him into prison
and had him guarded by four groups of soldiers,
each of four men;
it was his intention to lead
Peter after the Passover, before the people.
While Peter was in prison
the church prayed fervently to God for him.
On the night before Herod wanted to lead him,
Peter lay bound with two chains,
sleeping between two soldiers,
while before the gate of the prison was also
a guard.
Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him
and the cell was illuminated.
He punched Peter in the side,
woke him up, and said:
“Get up quickly.”
Immediately the chains fell from his hands.
Then the angel said:
“Put on your belt
and tie your sandals.”
Peter did so.
The angel repeated:
“Put on your cloak and follow me.”
He went outside with him
without realizing yet
that what the angel was doing was real:
He thought he saw a vision.
They passed through the first and second guards
and came to the iron gate that gave access to the city;
It opened for them by itself.
They went out,
they walked down a street
and suddenly the angel had disappeared.
Then Peter came to himself and said:
“Now I know for certain
that the Lord has sent his angel
and has delivered me from the power of Herod
and from everything that the people of the Jews were expecting.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 34(33), 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
The Lord has saved me from all that I feared.
The Lord I will praise every day,
His praise is always on my lips.
My spirit is proud of the Lord’s favour,
Let every one who hears it rejoice.
Glorify the Lord together with me
And let us worship His Name together.
I went to the Lord and He heard me,
He saved me from all that I feared.
Trust in Him and you will be happy,
for He will not fail you.
For those who cry out in distress, the Lord listens to them
and delivers them from their misery.
The angel of God establishes a barrier around them,
to protect all who fear God.
Pay attention and see how merciful the Lord is,
happy is he who seeks his salvation in Him.
SECOND READING 2 Tim. 4, 6-8.17-18
Now the crown of righteousness awaits me.
From the second letter of the holy apostle Paul to Timothy
Beloved one,
As for me,
my blood will soon be shed,
the hour of my passing is at hand.
I have fought the good fight,
finished the race,
kept the faith.
Now the crown of righteousness awaits me
with which the Lord, the righteous Judge
will reward me on a great day, and not only me
but all who with love look forward to his coming.
The Lord has stood by me and given me strength
to fulfill my ministry as a preacher of the gospel
to the end,
so that all nations may hear of it,
and I was delivered from the mouth of the lion.
The Lord will continue to protect me from all evil assaults
and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom.
To Him be the glory throughout the ages!
To Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
ALLELUIA Mt 16, 18
Alleluia.
Thou art Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mt 16, 13-19
You are Peter, and I will give you the keys
of the kingdom of heaven
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew
At that time
when Jesus had come to the region of Caesarea from Philip
He asked His disciples this question:
“Who is
according to the opinion of men,
the Son of Man?”
They replied:
“Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But thou
– He said to them:
Who say ye that I am?”
Simon Peter replied:
“Thou art the Christ,
the Son of the living God.”
Jesus resumed:
“Blessed art thou Simon, son of Jonah,
for it is not flesh and blood that has revealed this to you
but my Father which art in heaven.
“In turn, I say to thee:
“Thou art Peter;
and upon this rock, I will build my church
and the gates 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 also be bound in heaven
and whatever you shall loose on earth
shall be unbound in heaven.”
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Laudato Si
Encyclic of
POPE FRANCIS
On Care of the Common Home
215. In this regard, “the relationship between a good aesthetic education and the maintenance of a healthy environment cannot be overlooked”. By learning to see and appreciate beauty, we learn to reject self-interested pragmatism. If someone has not learned to stop and admire something beautiful, we should not be surprised if he or she treats everything as an object to be used and abused without scruples. If we want to bring about deep change, we need to realize that certain mindsets really do influence our behavior. Our efforts at education will be inadequate and ineffectual unless we strive to promote a new way of thinking about human beings, life, society, and our relationship with nature. Otherwise, the paradigm of consumerism will continue to advance, with the help of the media and the highly effective workings of the market.
To be continued
The Bible text in this edition is taken from
De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling, ©Nederlands Bijbelgenootschap 2004/2007.
Recitals from Liturgical suggestions for the weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Si Official English translation
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