LOVE IN PLACE OF SHAME

During a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, we visited Mensa Christi Church (Table of Christ), where you’ll see a large block of limestone believed to be the table where Jesus ate with His disciples. When Jesus resurrected, He showed Himself to His disciples as they were fishing in that exact same spot. Another moving scene that happened there was when Jesus asked Peter to take care of His sheep after he denied Jesus.

Mimo Perez captures this moment with his song “Buksan.” Translated to English, the lyrics would mean, “Open your eyes despite the tears. I will still love you and help you be free.”

Imagine the shame that Peter felt upon seeing Jesus, whom he expected would condemn him but instead showed him much love. Today, we celebrate the feast of Saints Peter and Paul who gave up their lives to spread God’s love. We are reminded that no matter how much we deny Jesus, He still loves and trusts us. Randel Serrano (forzazrof@gmail.com)

Reflect:

“Sin is the wound, repentance is the medicine. Sin is followed by shame; repentance is followed by boldness . . . Satan has . . . given boldness to sin and shame to repentance.” (St. John Chrysostom)

“Lord, open my hands to receive Your gift of love. Amen.” (Henri Nouwen)

Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles, pray for us.

First Reading | Acts 12:1-11

Peter’s miraculous escape from prison assures us that, with God, nothing is impossible. This does not mean that everything will go right for us all the time. God has not removed our freewill, nor has He suspended the laws of nature. Sometimes, though, He intervenes. It is interesting to note that Peter’s papacy is still the longest. It was important for the Early Church to have stability in leadership as it built its initial foundations.

¹ In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the Church to harm them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword, ³ and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews he proceeded to arrest Peter also.—It was the feast of Unleavened Bread.—⁴ 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. 5 Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayer by the Church was fervently being made to God on his behalf. ⁶ 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. ⁷ 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. ⁸ 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.” ⁹ So he followed him out, not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ 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.”

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R: The Lord delivered me from all my fears.

² I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. ³ Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R) ⁴ Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. ⁵ I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (R) ⁶ Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. ⁷ When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R) ⁸ The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. ⁹ Taste and see how good the Lord is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him. (R)

Second Reading | 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18

Saint Paul willingly gives his life in the service of the Gospel. He thinks little of himself and the foremost thing in his life is to proclaim God’s Kingdom. Paul’s singlemindedness is admirable when we remember that he used to be a Pharisee in the Jewish faith. Here we see how the Gospel can transform a person’s life, like it did with Paul.

⁶ I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷ I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. ⁸ 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. ¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ 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 | Matthew 16:13-19

There are certain aspects of authority and power that only the bishops should exercise ex officio. This is important to establish order within the Church. The authority given to Peter as the head of the Church is more than the authority of any baptized person. The Church recognizes this fact in the Sacrament of Orders, of which only the bishop shares fully. Let us respect the authority God has given to the bishops and to other leaders of the Church.

Gospel Acclamation

You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

¹³ When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ 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.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read JOB 10 - 13 today.

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

In the Gospel reading for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, we find Peter responding to a question of Jesus: “But who do you say that I am?” The questions that matter in our life are not so much those that ask us what others say, but what we ourselves hold. What do we think, what do we hope, what do we want, what do we do, what do we say? Our relationship with Jesus is one business that we cannot pass on to others.

Peter gives his response: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Something baffling follows this. In this personal answer, Jesus says that this is not actually Peter’s answer. It is given by the Heavenly Father.

Our own response is replete with the gifts that God Himself gives us. Our own abilities, our strengths, our intelligence, our whole being—all these are given by God. The moot point lies in the fact that we make God’s will our own. Yes, our answer will always be right because it comes from God. A reflection on our life yields this answer: all these could not have happened without God.

Today, we remember the two greatest Apostles: Peter and Paul. The meaning of their names are significant when we speak of our lives as Christians. Peter is a Greek name that means “rock.” Paul, on the other hand, is Latin in origin and means “small.”

This feast reminds us of this antithesis, this contrast. As a Christian, I would have to be a rock, to be strong. But then, I have to be small, to be humble. As followers of Christ, we have to persevere, and at the same time, we have to be small. Yes, strong as the rock, but lowly as the earth—like Peter and Paul. Fr. Joel Camaya, SDB

Reflection Questions:

Who do you say is Jesus? How do you become strong yet humble?

Heavenly Father, may my words of faith come from You. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _______________________________________