[The story of Peter's arrest and deliverance has a
miraculous note to it. God seems to be watching over the infant Church
with a Father's care. Peter ascribes his personal delivery from danger
to the hand of the Lord. A spirit of unity support, care, concern and
prayer seems to pervade this first band of Christians.]
Theme: Now I know the Lord really did save me from Herod.
King Herod started persecuting certain members of the Church. He
beheaded James the brother of John, and when he saw that this pleased
the Jews he decided to arrest Peter as well. This was during the days of
Unleavened Bread, and he put Peter in prison, assigning four squads of
four soldiers each to guard him in turns. Herod meant to try Peter in
public after the end of Passover week. All the time Peter was under
guard the Church prayed to God for him unremittingly.
On the night before Herod was to try him, Peter was sleeping between two
soldiers, fastened with double chains, while guards kept watch at the
main entrance to the prison. Then suddenly the angel of the Lord stood
there, and the cell was filled with light. He tapped Peter on the side
and woke him. Get up! he said Hurry! - and the chains fell from his
hands. The angel then said, Put on your belt and sandals. After he had
done this, the angel next said, Wrap your cloak round you and follow me.
Peter followed him, but had no idea that what the angel did was all
happening in reality; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed
through two guard posts one after the other, and reached the iron gate
leading to the city. This opened of its own accord; they went through it
and had walked the whole length of one street when suddenly the angel
left him. It was only then that Peter came to himself. Now I know it is
all true, he said. The Lord really did send his angel and has saved me
from Herod and from all that the Jewish people were so certain would
happen to me.
[St Paul compares his life to, among other things, a
race well run, for which he will be rewarded by the crown of
immortality. His success was due to the loving' protection of God.]
Theme: All there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved
for me.
My life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has
come for me to be gone. I have fought the good fight to the end; I have
run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come
now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to
all those who have longed for his Appearing.
The Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole
message might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear; and so I was
rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from all evil
attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be
glory for ever and ever. Amen.
[Peter 'stars' again in the gospel! Though it is
Peters story it is so very much each one of our stories because it
contains perhaps, the most important question ever asked by Jesus. 'But
you, who do you say that I am'? Peter was to speak directly from the
heart in this great profession of faith. Each of us must answer this
question eventually: 'But you, who do you say that I am?']
Theme: You are Peter, and I will give you the keys of the kingdom of
heaven.
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?' And they said, 'Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' 'But you,' he said 'who do you say I am?' Then Simon Peter spoke up, 'You are the Christ,' he said 'the Son of the living God.' Jesus replied, 'Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.'
A
1. What word or phrase stands out for you? Why?
2. With whom in the readings do you most identify? Why
3. Do you feel attracted to anything in today’s readings? Do you feel
resistant to anything? Do you know why?
4. In what way do these readings affirm you?
5. In what way do these readings challenge you?
6. What can you do to respond to this challenge?
B
1. Who is Jesus for you?
2. Peter was leader of the community; a man of faith who loved Jesus. He
was also weak and denied him. Can you accept loving but weak members in
the Church- leaders and faithful? Can you accept a Church that is at
times sinful?
3. Peter and Paul did not always agree. Do you think it is always
important for the Church that we agree? If not – what is important?
4. Paul says he has fought the good fight and is now waiting trustingly
for the “crown of righteousness”. How would you describe your life?
5. In the first reading Peter was conscious that the Lord was with him
in life’s ups and downs. How have you been conscious of the Lord’s
presence with you in your life?
1. St Peter was the first to make the profession of faith in Jesus as
the Messiah of God. He also denied our Lord, three times and then
professed his love for Jesus three times. He trusted Jesus enough to
walk on water in the middle of a storm, but began to doubt when he
noticed the waves in the storm. He was a disciple of strength (the rock)
of weakness (denial), of love (you know I love you) of trust (walking on
water) of doubt (he gets scared and slips). Doesn’t Peter give you hope?
2. Paul persecuted the Church and had a dramatic conversion. He knew who
to thank: “I am what I am by the grace of God.”
3. Paul’s awareness of being the apostle to the Gentiles (non-Jews) led
him to a confrontation with Peter (But when Cephas (Peter) came to
Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood self-condemned; for
until certain people came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles.
But after they came, he drew back and kept himself separate for fear of
the circumcision [Jewish] faction. [Gal 2:11,12 ]) “Differences form
part of a disciple’s mission. What is important is to dialogue as they
both did in Jerusalem. There the tasks were divided up: some would go to
the Jews and others to the Gentiles. However, Peter gives some advice to
Paul and to those who are with him. They asked, Paul says, ‘that we
remember the poor, which was actually what I was eager to do” (Gal
2:10). On that point the two apostles agreed. We too should agree with
them by doing the same and doing it eagerly.” (Gutierrez, sharing the
Word p.274)
• Pray that you will know Jesus’ love for you and always be willing to
‘bounce back’ like St Peter, even when things go wrong.
• Pray that like St Paul you will recognise the good you have done and thank God
for it.
• Pray that when you have difference with others you will always be open to
dialogue and chatting things out as did Peter and Paul