MONDAY 29 JUNE 2020

by | Jun 28, 2020 | Evangelium

monday 29 June 2020

 

 

Sts. Peter and Paul, apostles

Two pillars of our faith! Peter’s original name was Simon. Christ Himself gave him the name Cephas or Peter (rock) when they first met and later confirmed it. The first Pope, Peter is the Prince of the Apostles.

Converted from Judaism, Paul did much to advance Christianity among the gentiles, and is considered one of the primary sources of early Church doctrine.

 

Red

 

Entrance Antiphon

These are the ones who, living in the flesh, planted the Church with their blood; they drank the chalice of the Lord and became the friends of God.

 

Collect

O God, who on the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul, give us the noble and holy joy of this day, grant, we pray, that your Church may, in all things, follow the teaching of those through whom she received the beginnings of right religion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

 

First reading: Acts 12:1-11

King Herod started persecuting certain members of the Church. He beheaded James the brother of John, and when he saw that this pleased the Jews he decided to arrest Peter as well. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread, and he put Peter in prison, assigning four squads of four soldiers each to guard him in turns. Herod meant to try Peter in public after the end of Passover week. All the time Peter was under guard the Church prayed to God for him unremittingly. On the night before Herod was to try him, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with double chains, while guards kept watch at the main entrance to the prison. Then suddenly the angel of the Lord stood there, and the cell was filled with light. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him. ‘Get up!’ he said ‘Hurry!’ – and the chains fell from his hands. The angel then said, ‘Put on your belt and sandals.’ After he had done this, the angel next said, ‘Wrap your cloak round you and follow me.’ Peter followed him, but had no idea that what the angel did was all happening in reality; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed through two guard posts one after the other, and reached the iron gate leading to the city. This opened of its own accord; they went through it and had walked the whole length of one street when suddenly the angel left him. It was only then that Peter came to himself. ‘Now I know it is all true’ he said. ‘The Lord really did send his angel and has saved me from Herod and from all that the Jewish people were so certain would happen to me.’

 

Psalm 33:2-9

R/   From all my terrors the Lord set me free.

  1. I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise always on my lips; in the Lord my soul shall make its boast. The humble shall hear and be glad.
  2. Glorify the Lord with me. Together let us praise his name. I sought the Lord and he answered me; from all my terrors he set me free.
  3. Look towards him and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed. This poor man called, the Lord heard him and rescued him from all his distress.
  4. The angel of the Lord is encamped around those who revere him, to rescue them. Taste and see that the Lord is good. He is happy who seeks refuge in him.

 

Second reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18

My life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to be gone. I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his appearing. The Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear; and so I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Gospel Acclamation:  Mt 16:18

Alleluia, alleluia! You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church. And the gates of the  underworld can never hold out against it. Alleluia!

 

Gospel :  Matthew 16:13-19

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’

 

Prayer over the Offerings

May the prayer of the Apostles, O Lord, accompany the sacrificial gift that we present to your name for consecration, and may their intercession make us devoted to you in celebration of the sacrifice. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon: Cf. Mt 16: 16, 18

Peter said to Jesus: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus replied: You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.

Prayer after Communion

Grant us, O Lord, who have been renewed by this Sacrament, so to live in the Church, that, persevering in the breaking of the Bread and in the teaching of the Apostles, we may be one heart and one soul, made steadfast in your love. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Meditation

We remember today Saints Peter and Paul who were instrumental in early years of the Church’s history. The two apostles had two different personalities which helped in the early church: Peter’s impetuousity helped him look after the flock and Paul’s strong character and strong intellectual training helped to ensure that the non-Jews were welcomed in the Church. The people who knew Jesus had different impressions of him: to some he was Q healer to others he was a teacher and to the religious authorities, he was a troublesome leader who threatened their political power. So, when Jesus asks this quintessential question of faith: “who do you say I am?”  The disciples who had followed him and saw all he did and listened to Him daily Had To give a personalized answer. They needed to choose and make the commitment of faith; choose between being a follower, a spectator or an antagonist. Peter answers by proclaiming this profession of faith: “You are the Christ … the Son of the living God.” St Paul met this same Messiah on his way to Damascus when he asked “who are you, Lord?” And the Lord replied: “I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.” Paul had the opportunity to make a choice and he became a great missionary.