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Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul (June 29)

June 29, 2025

Fr. John Colacino C.PP.S.

Introit

Collect

O God, who on the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul give us the noble and holy joy of this day, grant, we pray, that your Church may in all things follow the teaching of those through whom she received the beginnings of right religion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading. Acts 12.1-11

In those days, 1 King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. 2 He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. 3 After he saw that it pleased some of the people, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. 5 While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him. 6 The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. 8 The angel said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” He did so. Then he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel’s help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 After they had passed the first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all that the people were expecting.”

Responsorial Psalm 34.1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

Second Reading 2 Timothy 4.6-8, 17-18

As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 17 The Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Gospel Acclamation

Gospel Matthew 16.13-19

When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Catena Nova

Look at the holy Apostles. It was by sinful jealousy that Peter was subjected to tribulation, not once or twice but many times; it was in that way, that he bore his witness before leaving us for his well-earned place in glory. And Paul, because of jealousy and contention, has become the very type of endurance rewarded. … In him we have one of the greatest of all examples of endurance. … [And] we too, are in the same arena and have the same conflict before us. Pope St. Clement I

There is one day for the passion of two apostles. But these two also were as one; although they suffered on different days, they were as one. Peter went first, Paul followed. We are celebrating a feast day, consecrated for us by the blood of the apostles. Let us love their faith, their lives, their labours, their sufferings, their confession of faith, their preaching. St Augustine of Hippo

There must be general rejoicing, dearly beloved, over this holy company whom God has appointed for our example in patience and for our confirmation in faith. But we must glory even more in the excellence of their fathers, Peter and Paul, whom the grace of God has raised to such a height among all the members of the Church that He has set them like twin lights of eyes in that Body whose head is Christ. Pope St. Leo the Great

A glorious, solemn feast has dawned, that of the martyrs and foremost of martyrs, made sacred by their deaths, Peter and Paul…. They show us the path to life and bring us to that one Mediator who has made peace between heaven and earth by his blood and who “committed no sin, nor was guile in his mouth”. But how, then, can I can possibly approach Jesus? He is the purest one and I am so sinful! For this very reason, God gave me two great sinners. If I feel I am the greatest of sinners, yet I think I may be able to approach two who were themselves such great sinners and still found grace with God. St. Bernard of Clairvaux

[Saints Peter and Paul[ are the pillars that support the church by their teaching, their prayers, and their example of patience. Our Lord strengthened them. In the beginning these pillars of the Church were very weak. They couldn’t support either themselves or others. It was wonderfully arranged by God’s Providence. If they had always been strong, one might have thought their strength was their own. But now all know that their strength was entirely from God…. St. Peter was very weak indeed. The Lord strengthened him by asking him three times, “Peter, do you love me?” This was followed by another strengthening when the Holy Spirit was sent. Likewise, Paul was weak at first but he was made strong. “I am certain”, he said, that neither death nor life nor angels nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate me from the love of God”. Something very like this is true of all of us. We were weak but we have been given strength in Christ to build up the Church in our community and nation. St. Aelred of Rievaulx

There are the gates of our true country, the two lights of the immense world. There Paul’s voice is heard like thunder; there Peter withholds or hurls the bolt . The former opens the hearts of men, the latter opens Heaven. Peter is the Foundation-stone, Paul the Architect of the temple where stands the Altar by which God is propitiated. Both together form a single Fountain, which pours out its healing and refreshing waters. St. Venantius Fortunatus

Today heaven welcomes [Peter and Paul] with infinite joy and honor, not too much differently than Rome formerly received the leaders and commanders of its armies when they had conquered the enemy and expanded the Roman Empire. They returned victorious and triumphant to their fatherland amid a thousand palms and trophies and crowns of victory…. Their glory, moreover, is ours as well for, since they are the patriarchs of the entire Church, they are like the fathers of all Christ’s faithful. They have begotten all of us for Christ through the Gospel by laying the first foundation stones of the faith of the Church. It is only fitting, therefore, that we celebrate with honor and praise, and with all the filial love at our command rejoice over the glory given to our fathers. St. Lawrence of Brindisi

Homily

They didn’t always see eye to eye. Though we place them side by side in prayer, in art, and in churches named for them, Saints Peter and Paul did not always sit in the same pew. True, Paul felt a need to confer with Peter after his conversion; but he waited three years to do so -- preaching on his own the whole time. Fourteen more years elapsed before Paul went again to Jerusalem to meet with those who were apostles before him--including Peter.

On that second visit, Paul received from Peter, James and John their right hands in partnership--the sign they approved of Paul’s mission to the Greeks: So that through [him] the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it (2 Tim. 4:17). So yes, Peter and Paul were on the same side – for now.

That handclasp, however, would soon loosen. This time on Paul’s turf --in Antioch -- when Peter came to visit. And Paul — in his own words — opposed Peter to his face because he clearly stood condemned (Gal. 2:11). Why? Because Peter — who used to sit at table with uncircumcised Gentile Christians and not keeping kosher — well, Peter changed his tune when some folks arrived from Jerusalem: Jewish Christians who still observed the Law of Moses and who claimed James, "the brother of the Lord," as their authority. When they came on the scene, Peter no longer sat with the Greeks: he began to draw back and separated himself” from them (Gal. 2:12).

Now all this despite the fact Peter approved of Paul’s approach on that second visit to Jerusalem, agreeing with Paul that the Gentiles did not have to follow Moses if they wanted to follow Christ. Peter even had a vision to this effect recorded in the Acts of the Apostles when he saw that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him (Acts 10:34-35). That's why Paul could have nothing to do with Peter's two-faced hypocrisy. Thus the face-off in Antioch. Something like a Cardinal telling the Pope off in front of everyone. Letting the whole church see how, on this point, they sat on opposite sides of the aisle.

And such was the church of the first century: torn by dissension over matters of discipline, morality, and faith. Sound familiar? We sometimes think problems in today's church are worse than ever. Not so. The problem posed by Gentile converts to Jewish Christians is central to much of the New Testament. Paul’s’ letters deal with it all the time. And the conflict caused a rift at the highest levels of church leadership: the holy apostles Peter and Paul. Still, we place them side by side on today’s feast: those once far-off brought near.

But it’s still hard to know what to make of their differences. Both, for example, could claim their authority rested on a revelation from God. Jesus himself guaranteed Peter’s insight: flesh and blood did not reveal to him that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, but rather Christ’s Father in heaven (Mt. 16:17). As for Paul, he insisted the gospel he proclaimed was not of human origin; for [he] did not receive it from a human source, nor was [he] taught it, but [he] received it through a revelation from Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:11-12). Claims, you see, to the highest authority. How, then, could they sit at different tables — perhaps even at this table of the Lord's Supper — on matters so vital to the church?

Well, both of them did have a history of being wrong. Peter denied the Son of God three times the night before he died. And Paul at one time violently [persecuted] the church of God and was trying to destroy it (Gal. 1:13).

And why did these men act so wrongly? It seems to me because of fear. Peter was afraid he would meet the same fate as the Master. As indeed he would — placed in chains a few years later like Jesus during the feast of Unleavened Bread (Acts 12:3). And then, when he was old, a belt fastened around him by someone else, took where he did not wish to go (Jn. 21:18). While Paul himself tells us it was fear of the circumcised (Gl. 2:12) who came to Antioch that day from Jerusalem that made Peter separate from the Gentiles.

The same Paul, I assume, was motivated by fear when he persecuted those very same Jewish converts to the faith. No doubt afraid the Judaism in which he was so advanced, beyond many people of the same age, along with the traditions of [his] ancestors for which he was far more zealous would disappear (Gal. 1:14).

And that might help us understand dissension in the church today as people so often stand ready to oppose each other to their faces, to separate from one another’s company, to hurl charges of hypocrisy and heresy at each other. It’s so often fear, isn’t it, which keeps us far-off from each other? Whether it's Peter's kind of fear that association with Christ could lead us also to where we would rather not go, as Christians in Nigeria, Myanmar and Pakistan face every day. Or the kind of fear Paul's opponents had that new ways and insights might mean the loss of cherished liturgical traditions, doctrinal formulas, moral principles or forms of church governance.

But in all these cases, we should remember how Peter and Paul each in a different way gathered together the one family of Christ. And like all families, there will be disagreements, generation gaps, and even conflicting claims to a rightful inheritance. Yet, hopefully, in the end a common purpose and common identity will prevail, as Peter on a Roman cross and Paul beneath a sword came to share one Martyr's crown (Preface).

Intercessions (Joe Milner; The Sunday Website)

For the Church: that we, like Peter and Paul, may allow God to transform us more and more into the image of Christ.

For Pope Leo: that God inspire his words as he promotes and encourages the faith handed on by the Apostles.

For all who are persecuted for their faith, especially those who are facing torture or death: that they may experience Christ with them in their suffering and remain faithful witnesses of God.

For all missionaries and evangelists: that they may experience Christ standing by them and guiding their teaching.

For the conversion of all who seek to harm and confuse God’s holy people: that God will touch hearts and change minds through the witness of faithful disciples.

For Christian unity: that God’s Spirit will lead us along new paths to overcome the differences between all who bear the name of Christian.

For all who produce our food: that God will provide favorable weather and a good growing season.

For all who are seeking employment: that God will guide their search and lead them to new ways to use their gifts.

For all who are traveling by air, sea or land: that God will lead them and guide them safely to their destination.

For the gift of peace: that God will give courage to those who make risks for peace so that all may live in peace.

Lord, living God, you crowned the faith of Peter and the tireless preaching of Paul with a share in Christ’s triumphant death. Renew our faith through their intercession and, by the example of their lives, rekindle our zeal for proclaiming the gospel. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. (ICEL; 1998)

Offertory Antiphon

Offertory Anthem (Benjamin Britten)

"Thou shalt make them princes over all the earth; they shall remember Thy name, O Lord. Instead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee; therefore shall the people praise thee. Alleluia. Thou art Peter. And upon this rock I will build my church. Alleluia".

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