Reading 1
Acts 12:1-11
In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the Church to harm them.
He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword,
and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews
he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
–It was the feast of Unleavened Bread.–
He had him taken into custody and put in prison
under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each.
He intended to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter thus was being kept in prison,
but prayer by the Church was fervently being made
to God on his behalf.
On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial,
Peter, secured by double chains,
was sleeping between two soldiers,
while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison.
Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him
and a light shone in the cell.
He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying,
“Get up quickly.”
The chains fell from his wrists.
The angel said to him, “Put on your belt and your sandals.”
He did so.
Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.”
So he followed him out,
not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real;
he thought he was seeing a vision.
They passed the first guard, then the second,
and came to the iron gate leading out to the city,
which opened for them by itself.
They emerged and made their way down an alley,
and suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter recovered his senses and 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.”
34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Responsorial Psalm R. (5)
The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Reading II
2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18
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.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance.
The Lord stood by me and gave me strength,
so that through me the proclamation might be completed
and all the Gentiles might hear it.
And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat
and will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Gospel
Mt 16:13-19
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Meditation: Acts 12:1-11
Sts. Peter and Paul
Peter was being kept in prison, but prayer by the church was fervently being made to God on his behalf. (Acts 12:5)
In this wonderful story, we read how God answered the prayers of the early church by sending an angel to release Peter from prison. So astonished is Peter that at first he thinks he is dreaming or having a vision. This can’t really be happening! In the same way, when he knocks at the door of the house where the community is praying for his release, the young woman who answers can’t believe her eyes. She is so excited that she rushes off to tell everyone without even letting Peter in!
From the earliest days of the church, Christians have been praying for their leaders. And from the earliest days, those leaders have relied on their prayers. The author of Hebrews urges: “I especially ask for your prayers that I may be restored to you very soon” (Hebrews 13:19). Paul tells the Philippians: “I know that this will result in deliverance for me through your prayers” (Philippians 1:19).
So how faithful are you in praying for our leaders? We should regularly be lifting up our “Peters” (Pope Benedict XVI, our local bishop, our pastor, and all our shepherds) and our “Pauls” (the evangelists and missionaries we know, and even those we don’t know). It’s an important enough ministry that we should be setting aside regular time to do this. You can even join the Holy Father in his monthly intercessions by offering up the prayers that appear on the back cover of this magazine every month. Check with your diocesan office to see if your bishop has similar monthly prayer requests.
When you hear of a natural disaster or a world crisis, find out what Christian organizations are on the scene to help the people who are affected—and pray for them. If a fund appeal captures your interest, find out more about the needs of the people that are pouring out their lives to lift up the needy, and add them to your list. Never stop praying— so many people depend on it!
“Father, thank you for calling pastors to serve your church and evangelists to take your good news to the world. Make their hearts joyful and their work fruitful for your kingdom.”
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