Prayer Request
Feast of Peter and Paul, Apostles
Acts 12: 1-11; Psalm 34; 2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 17-18; Matthew 16: 13-19
Peter is led out of chains, out of prison and into a barred city by an angel. “Then Peter came to himself…” Again it seems we are repeating the Sunday gospel for June 20: “Who do you say that I am?” Matthew, however, fleshes out the story and adds the new naming of Peter as Rock and the promise of the keys of the kin-dom. Peter who will flounder trying to walk on water, Peter who will deny Jesus—now, on this feast can hear the psalmist say: “Look to him and be radiant. Your face will never be ashamed.”
On June 20, you were asked, Who is Jesus for you? Nine days later: now who is Jesus for you? Peter came to himself, became conscious. To become more conscious of the ways you are being led into freedom, you might examine your consciousness every night. First, bring “the sacrifice of thanksgiving” and then check where you were fully human and fully alive, when your face was radiant with joy—and when you did something that made you ashamed. (Note: not when you felt something. Feelings are part of being fully human, as are desires. It is the doing of a wrong act that separates sin from temptation).
Thank you for these two missionaries, apostles, teachers. Strengthen us in carrying out your mission, Jesus, to speak and be good news for all who suffer.