Daily Readings - Fri Jun 29 2018

¹Now at the same time, king Herod extended his hand, in order to afflict some from the Church²Then he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword³And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he set out next to apprehend Peter also. Now it was the days of Unleavened Bread⁴So when he had apprehended him, he sent him into prison, handing him over into the custody of four groups of four soldiers, intending to produce him to the people after the Passover⁵And so Peter was detained in prison. But prayers were being made without ceasing, by the Church, to God on his behalf⁶And when Herod was ready to produce him, in that same night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, and was bound with two chains. And there were guards in front of the door, guarding the prison⁷And behold, an Angel of the Lord stood near, and a light shined forth in the cell. And tapping Peter on the side, he awakened him, saying, "Rise up, quickly." And the chains fell from his hands⁸Then the Angel said to him: "Dress yourself, and put on your boots." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your garment around yourself and follow me.⁹And going out, he followed him. And he did not know this truth: that this was being done by an Angel. For he thought that he was seeing a vision¹⁰And passing by the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate which leads into the city; and it opened for them by itself. And departing, they continued on along a certain side street. And suddenly the Angel withdrew from him¹¹And Peter, returning to himself, said: "Now I know, truly, that the Lord sent his Angel, and that he rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the people of the Jews were anticipating.

2 Timothy

Chapter 4

⁶For I am already being worn away, and the time of my dissolution presses close⁷I have fought the good fight. I have completed the course. I have preserved the faith⁸As for the remainder, a crown of justice has been reserved for me, one which the Lord, the just judge, will render to me in that day, and not only to me, but also to those who look forward to his return. Hurry to return to me soon¹⁷But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the preaching would be accomplished, and so that all the Gentiles would hear. And I was freed from the mouth of the lion¹⁸The Lord has freed me from every evil work, and he will accomplish salvation by his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen

Matthew

Chapter 16

¹³Then Jesus went into parts of Caesarea Philippi. And he questioned his disciples, saying, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?¹⁴And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, and others say Elijah, still others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets.¹⁵Jesus said to them, "But who do you say that I am?¹⁶Simon Peter responded by saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.¹⁷And in response, Jesus said to him: "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father, who is in heaven¹⁸And I say to you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it¹⁹And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound, even in heaven. And whatever you shall release on earth shall be released, even in heaven.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful narratives that remind us of the enduring strength of faith and God's unwavering presence in our lives. The first reading from Acts recounts Peter's miraculous escape from prison, highlighting God's intervention and the power of prayer. The second reading from 2 Timothy offers a deeply personal reflection from Paul, who, facing death, expresses his trust in God's deliverance and the ultimate triumph of salvation. In the Gospel, Matthew presents a pivotal moment where Jesus establishes Peter as the foundation of His Church, emphasizing the importance of faith and leadership. These passages are interconnected through themes of trust, divine intervention, and the establishment of the Church. Peter's escape and Paul's unwavering faith illustrate how God works through us even in the darkest times. Jesus' dialogue with Peter in Matthew underscores the foundational role of faith in building the Church, reminding us that our faith is a rock that withstands life's challenges. In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to trust in God's providence, especially during hardships. Just as Peter and Paul stood firm in their faith, we too can find strength in God's presence. The Church, as a community of believers, plays a vital role in supporting and guiding us. Let us embrace our faith with courage, trusting that God will guide us through every trial, and let us contribute to the life of the Church, recognizing our role in its mission. May we, like Peter, confess our faith boldly and, like Paul, trust in God's deliverance, knowing that His plan for us is always one of salvation and hope.