Weekly Mass Readings

For the 13th Week in Ordinary Time

June 29th, The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

Acts 12:1-11
Now about that time Herod the king put forth his hands to afflict certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. And those were the days of unleavened bread. And when he had taken Peter, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in the prison: but prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him. And when Herod was about to bring him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and guards before the door kept the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shined in the cell: and he struck Peter on the side, and awoke him, saying, “Rise up quickly.” And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself, and bind on your sandals. Put on your garments and follow me”. And he went out, and followed; but he thought it was a vision and not truly an angel. And when they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that led into the city; which opened to them on its own: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and straightway the angel departed from him. And when Peter was came back to himself, he said, “Now I know it is true that the Lord has sent forth his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of Judea”
2nd Timothy 6:2-8; 17-18
For I, Paul, am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.
But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me; that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. The Lord will deliver me from every evil work,and will save me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Matthew 16:13-19
Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that the Son of man is? And they said, Some say John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”And Jesus answered him, saying: “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven so whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
(ASV Bible Translation with updates)
Amos 3: 1-8; 11-12
Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O children of Israel, and against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt: “ You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore, I will visit upon you all your iniquities. Shall two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? Will a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he has taken nothing? Will a bird fly into a snare on the ground when no bait has been set? Shall a snare spring up from the ground and catch nothing at all? Shall the ram’s horn be blown in a city and the people not be afraid? Can evil befall a city without the Lord’s doing? Surely the Lord will do nothing without revealing his secret to his servants, the prophets. The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord has spoken; who would not prophesy? Therefore, thus says the Lord God: An adversary there shall be encompassing the land who shall bring down your fortresses and plunder your palaces. Thus says the Lord: As the shepherd rescues only two legs or a piece of the ear of a sheep out of the mouth of the lion, so shall the children of Israel be rescued that sit in Samaria in the corner of a couch, and on the silken cushions of a bed.

Matthew 8:23-27
Jesus entered a boat and his disciples followed him. And suddenly there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the boat was covered with the waves. However, Jesus continued to sleep. And the disciples woke him, saying: “Save, Lord; we perish.” And Jesus said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. And the disciples marvelled, saying, “What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”
Amos 5:14-15; 21-24
Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord God of hosts will be with you, as you have said. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish justice in the gate: it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt-offerings and meal-offerings, I will not accept them. Nor will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts. Take away from me the noise of your songs; for I will not hear the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
Matthew 8: 28-34
Jesus crossed to the other side of the water, into the country of the Gadarenes. There he met two possessed with demons, coming forth from the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass by that way. When they saw Jesus, they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with you, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Now there was a far off from them a herd of many swine feeding. And the demons begged Jesus, saying, “If thou cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine.” And Jesus said to them, “Go.” When the demons came out, they went into the swine and the whole herd rushed down the steep into the sea and perished in the waters. The pig herders fled to the city and told what had befallen those possessed with demons. The whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they begged him to depart from their borders.
Amos 7:10-17
Amaziah, the priest of Beth-el, sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel: “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words. For thus Amos says: Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of its land”.
Amaziah said to Amos: “You seer, go, flee away into the land of Judah! Prophesy there for your bread; but prophesy no more at Beth-el; for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a royal house.
Then answered Amos to Amaziah: “I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; I was a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees. The Lord took me from following the flock, and said to me: ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ Now therefore hear the word of the Lord: You say: Prophesy not against Israel, and do not preach your word against the house of Isaac. Therefore, thus the Lord: Your wife shall be a harlot in the city, and your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword; your land shall be divided by line and you yourself shall die in a land that is unclean; and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of his land.
Matthew 9:1-8
And Jesus entered a boat and crossed over into his own city. And they brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a bed. Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Child, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven.” When they saw it, certain of the scribes said to themselves, “This man blasphemes.” And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or ‘Arise, and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins (then saith he to the paralytic), “Arise, and take up your bed, and go home.” The man arose and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they were afraid, and glorified God, who had given such authority to people.
Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle
Ephesians 2:19-22
So, then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and members of the household of God, being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief corner stone. In him each room, fitly framed together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

John 20:24-29

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But Thomas said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
And after eight days again his disciples were inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Reach your finger, and see my hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered and said, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed.”
Amos 9:11-15
Thus says the Lord: on that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up its ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old; that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the nations that are called by my name, says I, the Lord, who will do this. Behold, the days come, says the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that sows the seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt from it. And I will bring back from captivity my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the wasted cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be plucked up out of their land which I have given them, says the Lord, your God.

Matthew 9:14-17
The disciples of John came to Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples fast not at all?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is present? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast. No one puts a new piece of cloth upon a well-worn garment; for that which should repair the garment is pulled away and a worse tear is made. Neither does one put new wine into old wine-skins or the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins perish. Instead, they put new wine into fresh wine-skins, and both are preserved.
Zechariah 9:9-10
Thus says the Lord: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter Jerusalem! Behold, your king shall come to you; he is just and holds salvation; humble, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt, the foal of an ass. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off; and he shall speak peace to the nations: and his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

Romans 8:9, 11-13
People of God: You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any one does not have the Spirit of Christ, that one does not belong to Christ. If the Spirit of the one who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwells in you.
So then, people of God, we are debtors, not to the flesh to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live.

Matthew 11:25-30
At that season Jesus prayed, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, yet revealed them to children. “Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight. All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, save the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, save the Son and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal him. Come unto me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am meek and humble in heart: and you shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Blessed John Duns Scotus, (1266-1308) Franciscan Theologian on The Name of God

First, then, I think we must consider that name which is so commonly used in Holy Scripture, that is, (the Name of) God. For although there are many names by which the Divine Nature is called, such as Goodness, Essence, Truth, and others of this kind, yet that is the name which most frequently occurs in Scripture. Of this name [then] an etymology has been taken over from the Greeks: for either it is derived from the verb (theoro), that is, "I see"; or from the verb (theo), that is, "I run"; or-which is more likely [since] the meaning of both is [one and] the same-it is correctly held to be derived from both. For when it is derived from the verb (theoro), (theos) is interpreted to mean "He Who sees," for He sees in Himself all things that are [while] He looks upon nothing that is outside Himself because outside Him there is nothing. But when (theos) is derived from the verb (theo) it is correctly interpreted "He Who runs," for He runs throughout all things and never stays but by His running fills out all things, as it is written: "His Word runneth swiftly." [And yet He is not moved at all. For of God] it is most truly said that He is motion at rest and rest in motion. For He is at rest unchangingly in Himself, never departing from the stability of His Nature; yet He sets Himself in motion through all things in order that those things which essentially subsist by Him may be. For by His motion all things are made. And thus there is one and the same meaning in the two interpretations of the same name, which is God. For in God to run through all things is not something other than to see all things, but as by His seeing so too by His running all things are made.

John Scotus 12th century

THE DIVISION OF NATURE (PERIPHYSEON)

Ch. I, V

Human beings argue. It’s part of our nature. We perceive reality with different brains and filter those perceptions through different experiences. We have differing viewpoints, contradicting opinions, and competing needs within ourselves, let alone among each other. It is no different in the church: people disagree, they argue, they bicker, they fight. Church leaders do the same, except they have historically come to blows at councils and taken cities by army to ensure the “right Pope.”

If we think this acrimony developed after the death of the Apostles, we haven’t read the Gospels. Jesus had barely begun his ministry before his apostles started bickering about who was his favorite or who’s family he spent time with or how to handle the crowds. Why do you think Jesus was always running off “alone to pray?”

Pope Saint Leo the Great referred to the Apostles Peter and Paul being set by God like “the twin light of the eyes in the body, whose head is Christ.” (Sermon 82, VII). However, these two apostles rarely agreed about the trajectory of the church a mere 20 years after the death of Christ.

In 2 Peter 3:15-16, the Apostle Peter exhorts the whole church to view recount the delay in Christ’s Second Coming as a kindness, adding, “just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which there are some things that are hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.”

It sounds like Peter thought Paul was a little too “esoteric” and “academic.” It’s a fair criticism; Paul had decades of formal rabbinical training as a theologian and Peter had to have a secretary (named Mark Peter) to write his letters because Peter was likely illiterate. But don’t worry: Paul had a few choice words for Peter, too. In fact, more than two verses. Paul gave Peter an entire chapter of burn.

Galatians chapter two recounts a huge incident in which Paul openly and publicly criticized Peter for cowering before the Apostle James (called “James the Judaizer” by some apocryphal texts) and behaving like the Pharisees, using the law as a point of division between Jews and Gentiles. Paul is quite proud of having spoken out against Peter, who apparently listened because Peter had a dream in which all foods were made clean (recorded in Acts 10).

Yet, when Paul wants to justify his legitimacy as an Apostle, he also appeals to Peter’s legitimacy, saying he stayed with Peter (Cephas) for fifteen days (Galatians 1:18). One can almost see Paul realize that any cooperation in leadership between him and Peter would be doomed unless they had completely separate spheres of influence. Perhaps that’s why Paul, though a Pharisee’s Pharisee and Scholar of the Law, turned toward the Gentiles while leaving the Judaens to Peter and James.

After all, there is no catfight like a biblical catfight.