Daily Readings - Thu Jun 29 2023

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 weave together themes of faith, divine intervention, and the foundation of the Church. The first reading from Acts recounts Peter's miraculous escape from prison, emphasizing the Church's unwavering prayers and God's timely intervention. This story highlights the strength found in communal faith and the belief in God's providence, even in the face of adversity. The second reading from 2 Timothy offers Paul's personal testament to his faith journey, expressing trust in God's deliverance and the ultimate triumph of salvation. Paul's confidence serves as a beacon of hope, reminding us that our faith will be rewarded. The Gospel from Matthew marks a pivotal moment in Christian history, as Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ lays the foundation for the Church. Jesus' response establishes Peter as the rock upon which the Church is built, symbolizing stability and enduring faith. This passage underscores the importance of individual and collective confession of faith, which is the bedrock of the Church's identity. Reflecting on these readings, we are reminded of the transformative power of faith and prayer in our lives. Just as the early Church prayed for Peter's deliverance and Paul trusted in God's plan, we too can find strength in our faith community and personal trust in God. In our daily lives, we are called to emulate Peter's courage in professing our faith and to trust in God's providence, even when challenges arise. Let us draw inspiration from these narratives, deepening our commitment to prayer and trust in God, and living as faithful members of the Church founded on the rock of Peter's confession.