Sts. Peter & Paul Read: Acts 12:1-11  2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18  Mt 16:13-19 (Pss Prop)

DAILY PRAYER

“Herod proceeded to arrest Peter also. He had him taken into custody and put in prison under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each.” (Acts 12:3-4)

We celebrate  the memory of the two greatest evangelists and apostles of all time.  They were the fundamental pillars upon which Christianity was initiated: St. Peter and St. Paul.

This incident about Peter recounted in the Book of Acts is very interesting. One of the three Herods the New Testament made infamous – Herod Agripa – after having ordered the death of the apostle James, ordered the arrest of  Peter to ingratiate himself with the Jewish leadership.

“The angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell… saying, ‘Get up quickly’… ‘Put on your belt and your sandals’… ‘Put on your cloak and follow me.’”  (Acts 12:7-8)  And the angel led Peter out of the jail.

When morning came, there was great confusion among the soldiers, for they did not know what had happened to Peter – nor did they understand that the Lord was at his side.

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 64:2 “O God, hear my anguished voice; from the foes I dread protect my life.”

St. Peter, d. 64 in Rome; Galilean fisherman; spokesman for the Twelve who became “Prince of the Apostles;” wrote two epistles; patron of all fishermen.

St. Paul, d. 67 in Rome; Pharisee who became the “Apostle to the Gentiles;” responsible for much of the Christian Scriptures; patron of all lay ministers, Cursillo, Catholic Action, and the national patron of Malta and Greece. Both are mentioned in the first Eucharistic Prayer.

OUR PRAYER CONTINUES