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Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Apostles
Acts 12:1-11;
Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9;
2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18; and
Mt 16:13-19
S
UMMARY
So you know that song by Aretha Franklin, Rescue Me ? Go ahead . . . I'll
wait while you sing it in your head.
Rescue me
Oh take me in your arms
Rescue me
I want your tender charms
'Coz I'm lonely and I'm blue
I need you and your love too . . .
Well, to state the obvious- that's the theme of these readings- rescue. In
the first reading, Peter gets rescued from prison by the Angel of the Lord.
In the epistle, Paul comes to terms with his mortality and comforts himself
with the realization that no matter what happens to him, God will come to
his rescue and invite him into the Kingdom of Heaven. The Psalm assures
us that "The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him."
The Gospel also reflects a "rescue" of sorts.
In the Gospel, Jesus appoints Peter as the Church's first Pontiff. Now,
when Peter and Jesus met, Peter was named "Simon," which meant "he
has heard". (Apropos, because Peter hears Jesus' preaching and wit-
nesses his miracles and recognizes that Jesus is the Son of God.) When
Jesus realizes that Simon "gets it," He announces, "And so I say to you,
you are 'Peter', and upon this rock I will build my Church . . ."