Peter and Paul (June 29th) – Cycle C

BEFORE YOU BEGIN: Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. “THE PARACLETE, THE HOLY SPIRIT WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, WILL INSTRUCT YOU IN EVERYTHING, AND REMIND YOU OF ALL THAT I TOLD YOU.” (JOHN 14:26)

FIRST DAY Reread last week’s readings.

1.What was a helpful or new thought from the readings or from the homily you heard on Sunday?

2.From what you learned, what personal application did you choose to apply to your life this week?

SECOND DAY                                        READ ACTS 12:1-11                                    FIRST READING

(“Put on your cloak and follow me.”)

1. Who laid hands on some members of the church and what was his intention? Acts 12:1

2.Who did King Herod have killed by the sword and who did this please? Acts 12:2-3

3. Who did King Herod arrest, at what feast time was it, how was he guarded, and what was Herod’s intention? Acts 12:3-4

4. What was the church doing while Peter was in prison? Acts 12:

5. Personal–When was a time that the church supported you in prayer?

6. What do the prayers of many do? 2 Corinthians 1:10-11

7. What happened to Peter on the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial? Acts 12:6-7

8. What did the angel tell Peter to do and what happened to the chains? Acts 12:7-8

9. As Peter followed the angel out of prison, what did he think was happening, who did they pass, and what happened to the iron gate? Acts 12:9-10

10. After Peter recovered his senses, what did he say he knew for certain? Acts 12:11

THIRD DAY                                            READ 2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8                                   SECOND READING

(“From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me.”)

1.Who is being poured out like a libation and what is at hand?2Timothy 1:1, 4:6

2.How has Paul competed, what has he finished, and what has he kept? 2 Timothy 4:7

3.How does an athlete receive the winner’s crown? 2 Timothy 2:5

4.Why does an athlete exercise discipline in every way? 1 Corinthians 9:25

5.What does Paul consider his life if only he may finish his course and the ministry that he received from the Lord Jesus, and to what does he bear witness? Acts 20:24

6.What awaits Paul? 2 Timothy 4:8

7.For those who persevere in resisting temptation, what will they receive? James 1:1210.

What is the Lord? 2 Timothy 4:811.

Why did Jesus say his judgment is just? John 5:3012.

Who besides Paul will receive the crown of righteousness? 2 Timothy 4:8

Personal–What are you doing in order to receive the crown of righteousness? Are you longing for His coming or are you still running the race?

FOURTH DAY                                         READ MATTHEW 16: 13-19                             GOSPEL READING

(“Who do you say that I am?”)

1.What did Jesus ask his disciples? Matthew 16:13

SIXTH DAY                                             READ ALL OF THE COMMENTARY

ACTS 12:1-11

This passage takes us through some very violent and yet also some profound times. The Jewish rejection of the Gospel opened the door for Gentiles to receive God’s word with joy. Persecution was rampant in Jerusalem as James, the son of Zebedee, was put to death by the sword on the order of King Herod.

Jesus had warned the apostles of the coming suffering about ten years earlier in Matthew 20:23 (death with the sword, beheaded like John the Baptist.) When Herod saw how pleased the Jews were over the killing of James, he decided to do the same to Peter. He imprisoned him and was going to put him on trial after the Passover. We see Peter experiencing extreme hardship because of his faith and we are challenged to ask ourselves, “Could I have handled that as well as Peter did?

”The miracle is not what Peter did, but what God did. That is the same principle in your life. It is not what you do, but rather it is what God does through you. Peter is led by an angel through the locked prison out to safety and he immediately went forth to serve the Lord in another place. It is interesting to note that the so-called all-powerful King Herod was so frustrated that he took the soldiers who were watching over Peter and executed them. The king himself died in a horrible fashion. No one who mocks God goes unpunished.

We read that the church (people of God) were in full communion in their intercessory prayer for their brother Peter. We see God’s answer to prayer in sending Peter an angel of freedom. God will do no less for us in our time of prayer.

                                                                                    2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8

Consider Paul’s emotions as he writes this letter from his prison cell. He is calling on Timothy to remember his obligation to preach the word of God. He tells Timothy to have courage and patience. He challenges Timothy to be constant in his proclamation of the word and reminds him that God’s presence will help him endure the trials. Timothy hears about the level of hostility he will face, and he realizes that many will reject the message of truth that has been preached to them already. Paul recognizes that he will face his own death (through martyrdom) very soon. He tells Timothy that his blood will be poured out in sacrifice. Paul is basically laying out for Timothy what he will have to suffer in Jesus’ name. In fact, Paul is telling Timothy that he will experience all the trials and tribulations that he experienced for the sake of Christ. Paul is telling Timothy these things to remind him that Timothy is replacing him and that someday Timothy will be telling some young evangelist to follow in his footsteps too. He tells Timothy that a crown awaits him because he has run the race well and he has kept the faith. Paul is confident that the just Lord will reward him on that last day. We need to realize that Paul is also writing this letter to us. He is telling us to be unafraid, to pick up our bible and to follow him into battle. Paul is saying that the just Lord will one day give us our reward just as he did Paul, Timothy and all those warriors who followed their example. Ask yourself, “What kind of race am I running and who is going to give me my reward?” I pray that you run your race only for Jesus, and you will be following Paul, Timothy and all the other saints.

                                                                            MATTHEW 16:13-19

In this passage, you hear Jesus ask one of the most important questions of the entire Gospel, “Who do you say that I am?” Jesus was delighted in Peter’s response, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus knew that Peter’s answer was inspired by His heavenly Father. Jesus then began to speak to his apostles about his up-coming suffering and death. He tells them, “Let us go on up to Jerusalem.” Jerusalem then becomes the major focus on His journey to Calvary. Peter went through some powerful changes in this passage. Jesus is impressed with his answer, and He changes Simon’s name to Peter, which means “rock.” Peter became the rock of the new Church. He laid down the teaching sand Christ gave him the power to forgive sins and to retain sins in the sinner. The words “bind” and “loose” are signs of the unique leadership role given to Peter. He becomes the leader of a new community called “Church.” The role of forgiving and retaining sins was given to the priests in the new faith. Today’s priests have that same authority in the sacrament of reconciliation. This is where Jesus tells Peter that he has been made rock and, on this rock, Jesus will build his church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church. The church you belong to today is the same Catholic Church that Peter started. Today the Roman Catholic Church teaches that the church of the living God is the truth and pillar of truth. The question you need to answer today is, “Who do you say Jesus is?” Why is He even in your life? What does He promise and at what price? Can you make it without Him and why not? Listen, you can hear Jesus clearly.

The first reading shows us that God rescues us in our time of need. The second reading tells us there is still a race to be run. In the Gospel Jesus asks us, “Who do you say I am?” This week let us spend time leading someone in our family, work, or school to Jesus. Reveal to them who He is