Readings for June 28, 2020 annotated—Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles, Lectionary 591

This translation is from the New American Bible. The bolded hyperlinks to scriptural citations will take you to additional translations. The other hyperlinks will take you to explanations of original Greek words. Text highlighted in yellow tells us something about God’s nature or our relationship to Him. Text in green tells us to do something. Commentary is in blue.

Reading 1: 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.

This sounds like the “gates of Hell” trying to “prevail” against the church, as Jesus discusses in today's gospel.

Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayer by the Church was fervently being made to God on his behalf. 

The way this is phrased, “but prayer,” indicates that the prayer was a direct response/counter-measure to Herod’s actions

-      So we too ought to pray in response to misgovernance/oppression today

fervently= ἐκτενῶς = ektenōs

earnestly; without ceasing; The idea suggested is that of not relaxing in effort; earnestly, fervently, intensely

The church’s prayer in response to Peter’s situation seems to be a manifestation/execution of Jesus’ direction to come to each other’s aid, as discussed in yesterday’s gospel

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. 

This seems like the same dynamic as Elijah & the prophets of baal—the odds stacked heavily against God/His people, but that only being a set up for God to more dramatically manifest His power.

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.

God overcomes seemingly impossible obstacles

God lets His servants go through some very harrowing things before He acts; maybe this is a Deuteronomy 8:2-6 kind of situation.

Benefits probably flowed from Peter & the church going through that tough stuff:

-      Their faith was probably bolstered immensely

-      Others’ faith has been bolstered over the years through this account

-      I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the guards & others came to Christ as a result of this

Peter has his part to play in this:

-         He must believe & receive 

-          he must take the actions the angel directs

Then Peter recovered his senses 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.”

We sometimes don’t understand what God is doing/our part in it as we are going through it, but only begin to appreciate/understand it later.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 

R.    (5) The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R.    The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name.I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Another example of the efficacy of prayer, as in the first reading.
R.    The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him.

Yet another example of the efficacy of prayer.
R.    The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him.

This precept recurs in the scriptures collected at Wisdom Principles—God is a Refuge for Those Who Love Him.
R.    The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.

Reading 2: 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.

Perseverance 

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. 

As in today’s first reading, God’s servant must go through hard things, but great good comes from 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.

Alleluia: Matthew 16:18  

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel:Matthew 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.”

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