Year A
Discover the deeper meaning and connections found in this week's readings, through these great commentaries written by our priests.
Explore this week's readings and hear what God is saying to us through His Word.
Find out more about how we can mark this special day in our liturgy.
See our music recommendations for the liturgy.
Introduction:
Today we celebrate the feast of SS Peter and Paul, undoubtedly two giants of the early church in the ways of faith, both of whom were eventually martyred for their witness to Jesus Christ and the proclamation of his gospel.
Each was called in a different way, Peter to be the leader and exemplar of faith in the early church, and Paul its fearless preacher, becoming the teacher of the world; each of them was tasked to proclaim the gospel in the face of opposition, persecution and physical violence.
Acts of the Apostles: 12:1-11
In this first reading, Peter’s imprisonment for his witness to Jesus, and what appeared to be the end of his active ministry, is suddenly visited by an angel of the Lord, and both grace and opportunity draws Peter from a certain death. The intervention is characterised by a series of personal commands from the angel (imperatives),‘get up…hurry, put on your belt and sandals, wrap your cloak around you and follow me.’ Each of these statements could be seen as metaphors for the continuity of Peter’s mission and work - the belt, sandals and cloak suggest a further engagement - the task is not yet over! Free now from his shackles, Peter proclaims ‘Now I know it is all true….the Lord really did send his angel and has saved me from Herod…’
Second Letter of Paul to Timothy: 4:6-8.17-18
This powerful proclamation from Paul is both a prayer of thanks and praise and an expression of a profound resilience throughout the course of his witness to Jesus Christ. He recognises and accepts that his time in this world is drawing to a close. He says ‘I have kept the faith….I have run the race to the finish.’
In characteristic fashion Paul insists that the power of maintaining his faith did not originate with himself, but from the Lord ‘who stood by me and gave me power…. to fight the good fight to the end.’
Mathew 16:13-19
In the gospel of Mathew Jesus confronts his disciples with the question ‘who do people say that I am’? Various answers are given by his followers, but Peter is the one who defines Jesus in a way that suggests a long process of reflection and prayer. Peter says ‘You are the Christ, [and] the Son of the living God’.
It is clear from the accounts of Scripture that Peter did not come to this conclusion over night, but herein lies his strength and capacity for leadership; his statement underscores the identity of Jesus and his divine relationship to his Father. In addition, Peter in his determination and profession of faith offers a blue print as to the way ahead: the cost of discipleship along the road of faithful service.
What follows from this, is that Jesus confers on Peter, whom he calls ‘rock’ the authority upon which the church is to be built. Furthermore, authority is accentuated by way of the gift of the keys - the power of service in the role of leadership, continuity, and selfless witness to the world.
GENERAL NOTES:
1. There is a Vigil Mass with its own texts
2. The origin of this celebration is very early – certainly 3rd C and possibly 2nd C
3. Holy Day of Obligation
4. Optional Solemn Blessing
5. Song: See Laudate 369-376, 379-380
COMMENTARY ON THE TEXTS, MASS DURING THE DAY, ORDINARY FORM
1. Most unusually, the entrance antiphon has no reference, though there are biblical and patristic echoes.
2. Ecclesiology: The Church is directly referenced many times: the Entrance Antiphon, Collect, Preface, Communion Antiphon, Prayer after Communion, First Reading, Gospel Acclamation, Gospel.
3. The Preface presents the ministries of Ss Peter and Paul as complementary. The balance is not only in the words themselves but also in the rhetorical cadence at the heart of the prayer:
“Peter, foremost…………. / Paul, its……..
Peter, who……………….. /Paul, master………..”
It is the same device used at the Final Scores on a Saturday afternoon:
“MinchesterCity, 1 / …Leeds Academicals, 2
Hobbler’s United, 4/ …Hampton Wanderers, nil
4. The Prayer after Communion includes a direct quote from Acts 2:22
These hymns have been picked and chosen from different sources.
Faith of our Fathers (CFE156, L837, LHON246)
For all the Saints (CFE176, L371, LHON260, TCH166)
Unless a grain of wheat (CFE754, L748, LHON697)
We hold a treasure (CFE780, L915, LHON717)
CFE - Celebration Hymnal for Everyone
L – Laudate
LHON – Liturgical Hymns Old and New (Mayhew, 1999)
TCH – The Catholic Hymnbook (Gracewing)
Do you have questions about the liturgy and how we are called to participate in it? Explore how the Church councils, saints, and popes have answered this key question and many more.
Every movement of the Mass is rich in meaning but we can become over-familiar with it. Rediscover the Mass and explore how it relates to the Exodus story, where many of its rituals come from, and how it makes Jesus present to us today.
