Saint Rita Catholic Church and School in Webster, NY - An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings

“And So I Say To You Peter, And Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church”

This Sunday, we celebrate the lives of Saints Peter and Paul. Both holy men are considered the foundation pillars of the early Church, preaching to both Jewish Christians and Gentiles. While Paul is most known for his work among the Gentiles and Peter is mostly known for his preaching to Jews and Jewish Christians, they both preached to everyone and anyone who would listen. Peter was the first apostle to convert and baptize a Gentile, the Centurian named Cornelius and his entire household (Acts 10).

In our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (12:1-11), we hear the story of how King Herod Agrippa I arrested St. Peter and put him in prison under heavy guard with plans to execute him after the Passover had concluded. In the middle of the night, God sent an angel to free Peter and deliver him to safety. After he had been freed, Peter said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord sent His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting.”

In our Epistle Reading (2 Timothy: 6-8,17-18), St. Paul writes from his prison cell in Rome to his protégé’ Timothy. It is, in a sense, a final exhortation and testament to the person who would replace Paul and continue his ministry. Paul is anticipating that his end is near and writes, “I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.”

In our Gospel reading (Matthew 16:13-19), Jesus asks His apostles “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” It is Peter who answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus ascribes this confession as a direct revelation from His Father in heaven and installs Peter as the rock upon which He will build His Church. Jesus gives him the authority to “bind and loose” which the Church interprets today as the authority of the Magisterium, the authority of the Pope.

One of the most important aspects of this feast day is that the ministry and mission of both Sts. Peter and Paul continued to flourish under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Both Peter and Paul were imprisoned in Rome and executed around the same time around 67 AD. But their disciples stayed in Rome and Rome became the seat of leadership in the Church.

bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062925.cfm