Thursday, June 28, 2012

 

FEAST, STS. PETER AND PAUL

JUNE 29, 2012
FRIDAY 12TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR II
FEAST, STS. PETER AND PAUL

Vigil: Acts 3:1-10 Gal 1:11-20 Jn 21:15-19
Day: Acts 12:1-11 / 2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18 / Mt 16:13-19

ACTS 12:1-11
About that time King Herod decided to persecute some members of the Church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword, and when he saw how it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This happened during the festival of the Unleavened Bread. Herod had him seized and thrown into prison with four squads, each of four soldiers, to guard him. He wanted to bring him to trial before the people after the Passover feast, but while Peter was kept in prison, the whole Church prayed earnestly for him. On the very night before He rod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound by a double chain, while guards kept watch at the gate of the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood there and a light shone in the prison cell. The angel tapped Peter on the side and woke him saying, "Get up quickly!" At once the chains fell from Peter's wrists. The angel said, "Put on your belt and your sandals." Peter did so, and the angel added, "Now, put on your cloak and follow me." Peter followed him out; yet he did not realize that what was happening with the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first guard and then the second and they came to the iron door leading out to the city, which opened of itself for them. They went out and made their way down a narrow alley, when suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter recovered his senses and said, "Now I know that the Lord has sent his angel and has rescued me from Herod's clutches and from all that the Jews had in store for me."

2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8, 17-18
As for me, I am already poured out as a libation, and the moment of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness with which the Lord, the just judge, will reward me on that day; and not only me, but all those who have longed for his glorious coming. But the Lord was at my side, giving me strength to proclaim the Word fully, and let all the pagans hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will save me from all evil, bringing me to his heavenly kingdom. Glory to him for ever and ever. Amen!

MATTHEW 16:13-19
After that, Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi. He asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They said, "For some of them you are John the Baptist, for others Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." Jesus asked them, "But you, who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "It is well for you, Simon Barjona, for it is not flesh or blood that has revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And now I say to you: You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church; and never will the powers of death overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you unbind on earth shall be unbound in heaven."

REFLECTION
Other than Jesus, no men emerge more vividly from the pages of the New Testament than Saints Peter and Paul whom we are honoring today. The story of the early Church is in a very real way reading the story of Peter and Paul and their faithfulness to Jesus. We venerate them today because of their instrumental role in spreading the Good News of our salvation in Christ.

It is easy to think of Peter and Paul as the great saints who proclaimed the Good News so successfully. Peter, of course, was the leader of the early Church. Paul was the great apostle of the Gospel to the Gentiles, founding many Christian communities. Yet, both of them knew deep failure and struggle in their lives.

God shines through the human weakness of Peter and Paul. Both of them knew the profound truth that God's power is manifest in weakness. God's glory was visible in them not because of their talents or skills but because they were weak. Peter and Paul were able to surrender their lives to Jesus, and through that surrender the power of God was able to change the lives of so many people. We often think that if we had the faith of Peter or Paul, we would be able to do tremendous things for God. If we think that way, then we forget that these men were very ordinary human beings. The difference between them and you and me is that they were able to comprehend the truth that Jesus does not choose the powerful and strong to carry out his mission, but the poor, the weak, and the humble.

Whatever our calling in life to serve God, success lies not in our gifts and talents but rather in our reliance upon the Lord.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Fr. Ismael Zuloaga, SJ
- Chief Samrose Anyaugo and Cordelia Anyaugo
- Eriberta Calvario
… for the personal intentions of
- Dr Ugonna Anyaugo, Ogechi Anyaugo, Barr Obinna Okoronkwo, Barr(Mrs) Barbara Adaugo Okoronkwo, Ifeanyi Anyaugo, Chuba Anyaugo and Cordelia Anyaugo
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Rody G. Bagabaldo
- Birthday: Dada Salud
- Birthday: Alice Chuaunsu
- Prayer Intention: Kenneth Yao & Family
- Prayer Intention: Neo Catechumenal Communities
- In Memoriam (+): Mary Elizabeth L. Yu (Oct 30, 1935- June 29, 1999)+
… for families who are in need of healing
… for world peace and reconciliation.

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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