DAILY- HOMILY

JUNE 29, 2009
SOLEMNITY, STS. PETER AND PAUL, APOSTOLES
MONDAY 13TH WEEK ORDINARY TIME – YEAR 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 sense 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."

2 TIMOTHY 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.

REFLECTION
Today is the feast of the two great apostles, Peter and Paul, who were
different from each other in many ways. The most notable difference
was their relationship with Christ. Peter knew Jesus in the flesh and
lived through times of great joy with Jesus, and he suffered through
times of dreadful pain with him, on occasion even being the cause of
Jesus' pain when he denied his Master three times.

Today's Gospel tells of a joyous moment, and it was Peter who created
this moment of joy for Jesus. At the time, everything seemed to be
going against Jesus. The Pharisees and the priests were vehement in
their opposition; the ordinary people simply could not understand him
and had little real interest in learning what he was trying to tell
them. At this dark moment, Peter confesses that Jesus is the savior of
Israel. Jesus, delighted because Peter had recognized him as the
Messiah and because he could now get on with his instructions to his
apostles, heaps praise on Peter.

Perhaps some of us envy Peter in his association with Christ, the warm
intense friendship he had with the man Jesus. Perhaps if we, too,
could have known Jesus in the flesh, if we could have wandered the
roads of Palestine with him, witnessing his miracles, listening his
teaching, how easy it would be to live fully the life of Christian
discipleship!

Then we look at Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles who established the
Church in Asia and Europe, and the author of almost half of the New
Testament. Paul only knew Jesus in the spirit, through prayer. Yet
Paul knew Jesus as intimately, as deeply, as intensely as did Peter,
even though only through prayer. As we can also strive to do.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Sophia Gonzalez
- Meiyin
- Juvy Ong
- Lisa
… for the special intentions: San Juan de Dios Hospital
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Jacquilene Uy-Ng
- Birthday: Rody G. Bagabaldo
- Birthday: Mother Mary of the Divine Mercy SSVM
- Prayer Intention: Kenneth Yao & Family
- Prayer Intention: Neo Catechumenal Communities
- Priestly Ordination: Fr. Ricky Lalana S.J.
- In Memoriam (+): Mary Elizabeth L. Yu
… for the healing and peace of all families

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers
and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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