The feast commemorates a solemn celebration in honour of Saints Peter and Paul, two of the great apostles and the principal Patrons of the Church of Rome. Peter, was one of the earliest of twelve apostles chosen by Jesus, and he also was our first pope. Saint Paul never met Jesus prior to Jesus� death and resurrection, but had a conversion experience with the risen Christ while on the road to Damascus which converted him from a persecutor of Christians to become �Apostle to the Gentiles.� Peter, preached of the Gospel among the Jewish people and Paul, the mission among the Gentiles. We celebrate this day made holy for us by the apostles� blood. Let us embrace what they believed, their life, their labors, their sufferings, their preaching, and their confession of faith.
Peter, prior to Jesus calling was known as Simon, a fisherman by trade. Jesus called Peter, along with his brother Andrew, James, and John, to leave everything behind to become His followers, �Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men�(Matthew 4:19). Paul, prior to Jesus calling was known as Saul, an educated Jew and a member of the Pharisee, as well as being a Roman citizen. Saul persecuted the Christians savagely, but was converted by the risen Christ the one that he had been persecuting after seeing Jesus in a vision on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:4). Peter being martyred in 64 AD, by crucifixion upside down because he said he was not worthy to be sacrificed in the same manner as Christ. Peter was martyred in 67 AD, he was beheaded. Like St.Paul, we must always be on fire for the Lord, and proclaim Him to everyone and in every situation, no matter how difficult it can sometimes be to do so. St. Peter demonstrates to us how difficult discipleship can truly be, but is also an example of the Lord choosing the weak and making them strong in bearing witness to Him.
Faith in Christ is the light of our life as Christians and as ministers in the Church. Let yourselves be consumed by love for Christ and his Gospel, to become all things to everyone. It is your task to hold nothing back, to go outside of yourselves in the service of the faithful and holy people of God.
The words in the passage from the Gospel of Matthew 16:13-23 below, shows us the confirmation of faith made by Peter in Christ, and the words from the reading from 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18, reveals to us Paul's confirmation of love in Christ.
Matthew 16:13-23
Peter�s Declaration about Jesus
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philippi, he asked his disciples, �Who do men say that the Son of man is?� And they said, �Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.� He said to them, �But who do you say that I am?� Simon Peter replied, �You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.� And Jesus answered him, �Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.� Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, �God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.� But he turned and said to Peter, �Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men.�
Grant, we pray, O Lord our God, that we may be sustained by the intercession of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, that, as through them you gave your Church the foundations of her heavenly office, so through them you may help her to eternal salvation. 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. Amen.
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.
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 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.�
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.
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.
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.�
