Daily Readings - Sat Jun 29 2024

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, trust, and the divine intervention that shapes our lives and the life of the Church. The first reading from Acts recounts the dramatic rescue of Peter from prison through the intercession of an angel, a testament to the power of persistent prayer and the faith of the early Christian community. The second reading from 2 Timothy offers a deeply personal reflection from Paul, who, in the twilight of his life, expresses unwavering confidence in God’s deliverance and the ultimate triumph of his mission. The Gospel from Matthew presents a pivotal moment when Peter, inspired by divine revelation, confesses Jesus as the Messiah, earning the promise that he will be the rock upon which the Church is built. These readings, while distinct in their contexts, are deeply interconnected. The rescue of Peter in Acts underscores the importance of communal prayer and trust in God’s providence, even in the face of persecution. Paul’s letter, written in the shadow of martyrdom, reveals the fruit of a life lived in fidelity to the Gospel, reminding us that our ultimate hope lies not in this world but in the eternal kingdom. The Gospel, with Peter’s confession, highlights the centrality of faith as the foundation of the Church and the indispensable role of the Holy Spirit in revealing the truth of who Jesus is. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own faith journey. Like Peter, we may face trials and uncertainties, but we are called to trust in God’s plan and to pray with perseverance. Like Paul, we are challenged to remain steadfast in our commitment to the Gospel, even when the path is difficult. And like the early disciples, we are reminded that our faith is not based on human wisdom but on the revelation of God. Let us ask ourselves: Do we truly believe that God is at work in our lives, even in the darkest moments? Are we willing to stand firm in our faith, like Paul, and to trust in God’s deliverance? And do we, like Peter, recognize the gift of faith that allows us to confess Jesus as the Son of the living God? As we reflect on these readings, may we be inspired to deepen our faith, to trust more fully in God’s providence, and to live as witnesses to the power of the Gospel in our world. Let us remember that we are part of a larger community, a Church built on the rock of Peter’s confession, and that we are called to pray for one another, to support one another, and to remain steadfast in our commitment to the Lord. May we, like Peter and Paul, be instruments of God’s grace and may our lives bear witness to the transformative power of faith in Jesus Christ.