2015/06/29 — Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

This is another day which is at the top rank of feast days: solemnity. As such it enjoys a separate Mass for vigil celebrations, on the eve of the feast day itself.

This solemnity brings to a close what I like to consider the Church's major holiday season. It begins way back with Easter and continues through Eastertide, with Ascension Day as a highlight. Then comes Pentecost and, within about a month, Trinity Sunday, Corpus Christi, Sacred Heart, St. John the Baptist, and Sts. Peter and Paul.


Vigil Mass.

The first reading is from the  Acts of the Apostles —Acts 3:1-10. It is an account of the healing of a cripple by Peter in the name of Jesus.


The responsorial psalm — Ps 19:2-5b — looks forward to the apostles' mission of spreading the gospel to the whole world..


The second reading — Galatians 1:11-20 — is an assertion by Paul of his status as an apostle, selected by God and equal to the twelve, but not in opposition to them.


The gospel pericope — John 21:1, 15-19 — tells of Jesus' conferral of responsibility for the flock on Peter during his post-resurrection appearance to the apostles at the Sea of Galilee. Jesus also points to Peter's eventual martyrdom.


Mass for the Day.


As was the case at the vigil, the first reading — Acts 12:1-11 — tells of an event that happened to Peter. This time, Herod has begun to persecute the apostles and has Peter arrested. Peter is miraculously released from the prison.


The responsorial psalm — Ps 34:2-9 — invites us to praise God, who protects his people.


Again the second reading — 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 — is from the Pauline corpus in the New Testament. Although the apostle  was not condemned in his most recent trial, enabling him to continue proclaiming the gospel, he expects that eventually he will give his life and be rewarded by God.


The gospel passage — Matthew 16:13-19 — tells of Peter's profession of faith at Caesarea Philippi and Jesus' response: that faith is a direct revelation from God; because of that, Jesus will build his church on Peter as the rock; and Jesus gives Peter authority to "bind and loose."


The gospels make Peter's call to leadership of the church clear. If there were a place for a third gospel passage on the same theme, it could be Luke 22:31-32, where Jesus looks to Peter to be strong in faith and to strengthen the brothers. Although Peter would eventually be martyred, he was able to witness to Jesus in various ways — miracles and preaching — to open the church to the Gentiles, and he had God's protection as necessary to enable him to fulfill his mission.

St. Paul received his call on the road to Damascus, where he was going in search of Christians. Acts 9:1-19. Thereafter he became a zealous missionary. Like Peter, he was enabled to fulfill the work to which God called him, despite persecution.

Both were martyred in Rome, probably in the early 60's. The Church reveres them as its twin foundational pillars.