13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Solemnity of Peter and Paul
29th June 2025
Lectionary Readings: Acts 12:1-11; Ps 34:1-8; 2Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; Matthew 16:13-19
Theme: That All the Gentiles Might Hear the Good News (Mt 4:17)
In the gospel for today, and especially in verses 17-19, we have the foundation story of the post-Easter authority in the church. Only in Matthew do we find this powerful text of the mandating of Peter at Caesarea Philippi. In that city, built by Herod the Great, there was a shrine to the god Pan, and a temple to the Roman emperor, Augustus. In that context, Jesus asks his disciples the crucial question, “Who do you say that the Son of Man is?” and Peter responds, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (15-16). Jesus hears that confession of faith as a gift from the Father (16-17), which leads him to mandate Peter (Petros – Greek) as the rock (petra) on which he will build his church (ecclesia – people of God). To Peter he will entrust the keys of the kingdom of heaven (18-19).
What is the nature of the authority given to Peter? Binding and loosing are rabbinic technical terms related to exorcism, excommunication, and similar definitive decisions. Now, God will bind and loose what Peter will bind and loose. We might note that, later, that authority is also given to other disciples (18:18); but here, on Peter alone are bestowed this revelation, the role of the rock of the foundation of the church, and the keys as symbols of authority. The purpose of that authority is the authentic transmission of the experience and insights of the encounter with Jesus.
The passage from Acts keeps our attention focused on Peter. It provides a dramatic account of King Herod’s persecution of the early church, and of Peter’s amazing escape from prison the night before he was to be executed. The church’s fervent prayer for him is noted as a significant influence in his escape. Yet one cannot help smiling at the details, as the angel summons Peter: “Get up quickly…fasten your belt … put on your sandals … wrap your cloak around you … follow me,” and again when Peter emerges from a daze, and finally realizes, “I am sure that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me!”
The second letter to Timothy is a very moving description of Paul’s state of mind as he faces death. Feeling “poured out as a libation” (4:6), still he expresses his confidence in the Lord, the righteous judge, who has stood by him and given him strength. Even at this point, Paul’s preoccupation is that “the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it” (4:17).
Psalm 34 injects a profound note of confidence, gratitude and praise, with its phrases such as: “O magnify the Lord with me … let us exalt his name together … look to him and be radiant … taste and see that the Lord is good!” We might imagine those phrases as Paul’s response when he finds himself outside the iron gate of the city, rescued from the hands of Herod, or as Peter’s reaction when he hears Jesus bless him and mandate him to lead the disciples, and the generations that will follow them.
Indeed, all of the readings for today’s liturgy invite us into qualities that are essential to discipleship, and to faith-filled service in the ministries to which we are called.
For Reflection and Discussion:
1. In your own experience of discipleship, recall an event or a situation or a relationship that still speaks to you of the meaning of discipleship.
2. How does ministry shape your life – insights acquired, personal qualities developed, skills refined, etc.
Bibliography: Coogan, Michael D., editor, The New Oxford Annotated Bible, Third Edition (Oxford University Press, 2001); Levine, Amy-Jill and Bretler, Marc Zvi, editors, The Jewish Annotated New Testament (Oxford University Press, 2011).
This week’s Sunday Liturgy Commentary was prepared by
Diane Willey, Canada, Bat Kol Alumna 2005, 2006
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