29-06-2014 Gospel of the Day Acts, 12 1. It was about this time that King Herod started persecuting certain members of the church. 2. He had James the brother of John beheaded, 3. and when he saw that this pleased the Jews he went on to arrest Peter as well. 4. As it was during the days of Unleavened Bread that he had arrested him, he put him in prison, assigning four sections of four soldiers each to guard him, meaning to try him in public after the Passover. 5. All the time Peter was under guard the church prayed to God for him unremittingly. 6. On the night before Herod was to try him, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with two chains, while guards kept watch at the main entrance to the prison. 7. Then suddenly an 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. 8. 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. 9. He followed him out, but had no idea that what the angel did was all happening in reality; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10. They passed through the first guard post and then the second 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. 11. It was only then that Peter came to himself. And he said, Now I know it is all true. The Lord really did send his angel and save me from Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting. Psalms, 34 1. [Of David, when he had feigned insanity before Abimelech, and Abimelech sent him away] I will bless Yahweh at all times, his praise continually on my lips. 2. I will praise Yahweh from my heart; let the humble hear and rejoice. 3. Proclaim with me the greatness of Yahweh, let us acclaim his name together. 4. I seek Yahweh and he answers me, frees me from all my fears. 5. Fix your gaze on Yahweh and your face will grow bright, you will never hang your head in shame. 6. A pauper calls out and Yahweh hears, saves him from all his troubles. 7. The angel of Yahweh encamps around those who fear him, and rescues them. 8. Taste and see that Yahweh is good. How blessed are those who take refuge in him. 9. Fear Yahweh, you his holy ones; those who fear him lack for nothing. 10. Young lions may go needy and hungry, but those who seek Yahweh lack nothing good. 11. Come, my children, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of Yahweh. 12. Who among you delights in life, longs for time to enjoy prosperity? 13. Guard your tongue from evil, your lips from any breath of deceit. 14. Turn away from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it. 15. The eyes of Yahweh are on the upright, his ear turned to their cry. 16. But Yahwehs face is set against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. 17. They cry in anguish and Yahweh hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. 18. Yahweh is near to the broken-hearted, he helps those whose spirit is crushed. 19. Though hardships without number beset the upright, Yahweh brings rescue from them all. 20. Yahweh takes care of all their bones, not one of them will be broken. 21. But to the wicked evil brings death, those who hate the upright will pay the penalty. 22. Yahweh ransoms the lives of those who serve him, and there will be no penalty for those who take refuge in him. 2 Timothy, 4 1. Before God and before Christ Jesus who is to be judge of the living and the dead, I charge you, in the name of his appearing and of his kingdom: 2. proclaim the message and, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it. Refute falsehood, correct error, give encouragement -- but do all with patience and with care to instruct. 3. The time is sure to come when people will not accept sound teaching, but their ears will be itching for anything new and they will collect themselves a whole series of teachers according to their own tastes; 4. and then they will shut their ears to the truth and will turn to myths. 5. But you must keep steady all the time; put up with suffering; do the work of preaching the gospel; fulfil the service asked of you. 6. As for me, my life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to depart. 7. I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; 8. all there is to come for me now is the crown of uprightness which the Lord, the upright judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his appearing. 9. Make every effort to come and see me as soon as you can. 10. As it is, Demas has deserted me for love of this life and gone to Thessalonica, Crescens has gone to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia; 11. only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you; I find him a useful helper in my work. 12. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13. When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, and the scrolls, especially the parchment ones. 14. Alexander the coppersmith has done me a lot of harm; the Lord will repay him as his deeds deserve. 15. Be on your guard against him yourself, because he has been bitterly contesting everything that we say. 16. The first time I had to present my defence, no one came into court to support me. Every one of them deserted me -- may they not be held accountable for it. 17. But the Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed for all the gentiles to hear; and so I was saved from the lions mouth. 18. 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. Matthew, 16 13. 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? 14. And they said, Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. 15. But you, he said, who do you say I am? 16. Then Simon Peter spoke up and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17. Jesus replied, Simon son of Jonah, you are a blessed man! Because it was no human agency that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. 18. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my community. And the gates of the underworld can never overpower it. 19. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Commentary on the Gospel FAITH AND MISSION The mission of leadership entrusted to Peter demanded of him an explanation of his faith. Before assuming the role of leader of the community, it was important to clarify your thinking about Jesus, in order to prevent future violations. Had Jesus on account of a purely human Messiah, would run the risk of turning the community into a kind of guerrilla group, willing to impose the kingdom of God with fire and sword. The violence was the way chosen to make the UK happen. If considered one of the ancient prophets reincarnated, become the Good News of the Kingdom in an apocalyptic doomsday proclamation imposing fear and terror. In fact, it was thought that, in the end times, many prophets of old were to reappear. If Peters faith was inaccurate, not knowing well to whom he had entrusted his life, risked proclaim a bland message, and get the community to be as salt that has lost its flavor, or put in the place undue light. Only after Peter professed his faith in Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God, was entrusted with the task of being rock upon which he would build the community of disciples, his Church. Among many mishaps, this apostle gave evidence of his adherence to Jesus, sealing his testimony with his life, the ultimate demonstration of their faith. Therefore, their mission was brought to an end. prayer Father, my faith consolidates, like the apostle Peter who, in the midst of trials, knew how to give with their martyrdom, consummate testimony of fidelity to Jesus.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 02:31:17 +0000
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