2007년 6월 29일 금요일 성 베드로와 성 바오로 사도 대축일
제1독서
사도행전 12,1-11
그 무렵 1 헤로데 임금이 교회에 속한 몇몇 사람을 해치려고 손을 뻗쳤다. 2 그는 먼저 요한의 형 야고보를 칼로 쳐 죽이게 하고서, 3 유다인들이 그 일로 좋아하는 것을 보고 베드로도 잡아들이게 하였다. 때는 무교절 기간이었다.
4 그는 베드로를 붙잡아 감옥에 가두고 네 명씩 짠 네 개의 경비조에 맡겨 지키게 하였다. 파스카 축제가 끝나면 그를 백성 앞으로 끌어낼 작정이었던 것이다. 5 그리하여 베드로는 감옥에 갇히고 교회는 그를 위하여 끊임없이 기도하였다.
6 헤로데가 베드로를 끌어내려고 하던 그 전날 밤, 베드로는 두 개의 쇠사슬에 묶인 채 두 군사 사이에서 잠을 자고 있었고, 문 앞에서는 파수병들이 감옥을 지키고 있었다.
7 그런데 갑자기 주님의 천사가 나타나더니 감방에 빛이 비치는 것이었다. 천사는 베드로의 옆구리를 두드려 깨우면서, “빨리 일어나라.” 하고 말하였다. 그러자 그의 손에서 쇠사슬이 떨어져 나갔다.
8 천사가 베드로에게 “허리띠를 매고 신을 신어라.” 하고 이르니 베드로가 그렇게 하였다.
천사가 또 베드로에게 “겉옷을 입고 나를 따라라.” 하고 말하였다. 9 베드로는 따라 나가면서도, 천사가 일으키는 그 일이 실제인 줄 모르고 환시를 보는 것이려니 생각하였다.
10 그들이 첫째 초소와 둘째 초소를 지나 성안으로 통하는 쇠문 앞에 다다르자, 문이 앞에서 저절로 열렸다. 그래서 밖으로 나가 어떤 거리를 따라 내려갔는데, 천사가 갑자기 그에게서 사라져 버렸다.
11 그제야 베드로가 정신이 들어 이렇게 말하였다. “이제야 참으로 알았다. 주님께서 당신의 천사를 보내시어 헤로데의 손에서, 유다 백성이 바라던 그 모든 것에서 나를 빼내어 주셨다.”
제2독서
티모테오 2서 4,6-8.17-18
사랑하는 그대여, 6 나는 이미 하느님께 올리는 포도주로 바쳐지고 있습니다. 내가 이 세상을 떠날 때가 다가온 것입니다. 7 나는 훌륭히 싸웠고 달릴 길을 다 달렸으며 믿음을 지켰습니다. 8 이제는 의로움의 화관이 나를 위하여 마련되어 있습니다. 의로운 심판관이신 주님께서 그날에 그것을 나에게 주실 것입니다. 나만이 아니라, 그분께서 나타나시기를 애타게 기다린 모든 사람에게도 주실 것입니다.
17 주님께서는 내 곁에 계시면서 나를 굳세게 해 주셨습니다. 나를 통하여 복음 선포가 완수되고 모든 민족들이 그것을 듣게 하시려는 것이었습니다. 그리고 나는 사자의 입에서 구출되었습니다.
18 주님께서는 앞으로도 나를 모든 악행에서 구출하시고, 하늘에 있는 당신 나라에 들어갈 수 있게 구원해 주실 것입니다. 그분께 영광이 영원무궁하기를 빕니다. 아멘.
복음
마태오 16,13-19
13 예수님께서 카이사리아 필리피 지방에 다다르시자 제자들에게, “사람의 아들을 누구라고들 하느냐?” 하고 물으셨다.
14 제자들이 대답하였다. “세례자 요한이라고 합니다. 그러나 어떤 이들은 엘리야라 하고, 또 어떤 이들은 예레미야나 예언자 가운데 한 분이라고 합니다.”
15 예수님께서 “그러면 너희는 나를 누구라고 하느냐?” 하고 물으시자, 16 시몬 베드로가 “스승님은 살아 계신 하느님의 아드님 그리스도이십니다.” 하고 대답하였다.
17 그러자 예수님께서 그에게 이르셨다.
“시몬 바르요나야, 너는 행복하다! 살과 피가 아니라 하늘에 계신 내 아버지께서 그것을 너에게 알려 주셨기 때문이다. 18 나 또한 너에게 말한다. 너는 베드로이다. 내가 이 반석 위에 내 교회를 세울 터인즉, 저승의 세력도 그것을 이기지 못할 것이다.
19 또 나는 너에게 하늘 나라의 열쇠를 주겠다. 그러니 네가 무엇이든지 땅에서 매면 하늘에서도 매일 것이고, 네가 무엇이든지 땅에서 풀면 하늘에서도 풀릴 것이다.”
June 29, 2007
Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
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.”
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
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.”
Commentary
Peter is detained in prison after the murder of James and he now experiences persecution. The church prays for him and he is released mysteriously by the power of an angel saying, "Put on your belt and your sandals, and your cloak and follow me" (see John 21). Peter will survive this time but one day he will be led to the cross. And Paul is in prison, writing to Timothy, waiting to die and speaking of what he has done by preaching to the nations. He is relying on God to bring him to the end.
Jesus demands that his disciples tell him who they think he is-others think he is a prophet (true enough-do we see Jesus as a prophet?) but he wants to push them further. It is Peter who answers that he is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God-knowledge that has been given to him by the Father, though it will take years and the experience of Jesus' death to give him understanding of what those words mean. Peter is bound to the foundation of the church with the promise that nothing will stand against it for Jesus will be with them, to forgive and to hold bound those who do evil. These first leaders were human and sinful as we are-yet we need to call our leaders today to the cross and to the preaching of the gospel, and hold those who do evil bound for their words/works.
Today we remember and celebrate the memory of two great apostles. Both of them gave themselves completely to their Lord, Jesus, and both of them faced tremendous persecution, culminating in death in Rome.
So much can be said about their calls, about their passion, even their struggles. The Peter stories in the gospels are etched in our memory. So many of Paul's words have shaped our faith. Today, however, I am struck by three aspects of their lives.
Peter and Paul were totally focused on the person of Jesus. Their relationship with him was everything for them. Jesus called them away from their former lives. He missioned them. on a daily basis, it was Jesus who sustained them and gave them life and passion.
Peter and Paul were transformed by the Holy Spirit. They went from being such unlikely apostles to being on fire" with sharing the Good News of salvation given to us in Jesus. They had courage and total trust in God. In their passion, they had discernment and openness to let the Spirit lead them. They were open to let their differences be resolved in dialogue and trust in the Spirit's presence among them. And, led by the Spirit to Rome, they surrendered to death as their Savior had done for them.
Finally, Peter and Paul never lost sight that they were sinners - loved sinners, sent to share the power of God's love in Jesus. It kept them humble, compassionate with other sinners, always confident in God's loving mercy. They were always aware that their salvation was a tremendous gift, which they had not earned.
Most loving Father, let us be renewed today in our relationship with your Son, Jesus. He became one of us and loves each of us with personal care. Let our love for him grow and let our desire to be with him and like him grow. Free us from all else that tempts us with anxiety, fear or self-absorption. Send us your Spirit to set our hearts on fire for the mission you give each of us. Let us live our lives with a desire and a focus on who you have called us to be. And, Father, let us never lose sight that we are loved sinners. Strip us of all pride and judgment of others. Let us humbly love as we have been loved. Let this day be filled with gratitude for the example of Peter and Paul, and for your saving us in Jesus and accompanying us with your Spirit. Amen.
by
Andy Alexander, S.J.
University Ministry and the Collaborative Ministry Office
«You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God»
Today, is the day consecrated by the martyrdom of the apostles Peter and Paul! «Peter, our leader in faith; Paul, its fearless preacher who became the teacher of the world» (Preface). Today is a day to be grateful for the Apostolic Faith, which is also our faith, proclaimed by these two pillars of the Church through their preaching. It is the faith overcoming the world, because it believes and announces Jesus Christ as the Son of God: «You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God» (Mt 16:16). Other celebrations of St. Peter and St. Paul commemorate other aspects of their lives, but to day we contemplate the memory of the Apostles «through whom our religious life had its origin» (Collect): through their martyrdom they confirmed their testimony.
Their faith, and strength for martyrdom, did not come from their human capacity. For it was no man of flesh or blood that has revealed Peter who was Jesus, but the revelation of his Father in Heaven (cf. Mt 16:17). And likewise, it was indeed God's grace that made Saul recognize Jesus, the Lord, “as the one he was persecuting”. In both cases, human freedom, necessary for the act of faith, leans on the Holy Spirit's action.
The faith of the apostles is the faith of the, one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Since Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi, «every day, in the Church, Peter goes on saying: ‘You are Christ, the Son of the living God’» (St. Leo the Great). Ever since, till our days, a crowd of Christians of all epochs, ages, cultures, and anything else that may differentiate men has unanimously proclaimed the same victorious faith.
Through Baptism and Confirmation we are paving a path to testimony, that is, a path to martyrdom. It is necessary that we are always attentive to the “laboratory of faith” that the Holy Spirit carries out upon us (John Paul II), and that we implore with humility to be able to experiment the joy of the faith of the Church.
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