Scripture Reflection for Feast of SS Peter and Paul and for 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture: Vigil and Day Celebrations combined: Vigil: Acts 3:1-10. Psalm
19:2-3,4-5. Galatians 1:11-20. John 21:15-19. Lectionary # 590
Daytime Liturgy: Acts 12:1-11. Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5,6-7,8-9. II
Timothy 4:6-8,17-18. Matthew16:13-19. Lectionary #591:

Some great solemnities have both a vigil Eucharistic celebration and
one during the day. This happens as we have seen with the Birth of John the
Baptist, the Birth of Jesus, and now with the Feast of the great martyrs
and apostles, Peter and Paul who died in the first century around the
middle of the sixties. Our Roman Catholic Church celebrates these two
foundational saints with great joy and solemnity. Our Vigil readings focus
on the events more of St. Peter's life, but also have a personal reflection
from the mind of Paul in II Timothy.
St. Peter and the Apostle John heal a crippled man outside the Temple
and the text tells us that they had been praying in the Temple. Many of the
early miracles in Acts are similar to what Luke has given us as miracles in
the Gospel done by Jesus. Jesus had promised that they would do such
things after his resurrection. Luke brings this out in the passage chosen
from John 21. He also, at the end of the passage, gives us a remarkable
statement which shows the death that Peter will undergo ( probably by
crucixion). The outstanding English exegete gives us a reasonable way of
looking at what the texts says, "Peter will not only be a pastor, he will
be a martyr; that is, he can now follow Jesus(as in 13:36ff. he had been
told he could not). He will glorify God by the ovedeince and faith shown in
his death. Where v.18 implies death by crucifixion is not quite certain,
but porbable. When this chapter was written Peter had already suffeered,
and this passage may be taken as early and good evidence forf his
martyrdom." (Peake's Commentary on the Bible, p.868).
As for St. Paul we are fortunate to have two reflections about
himself; one speaks of his great mission to the Nations and hence the
Apostle to the Gentiles is usually his identity card. He then in II Timoty
admirably speaks of his death in the light of a race as he approaches the
finish line. It is a passage that may easily be seen on tombstones in
cemeteries: " I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I
have kept the faith." (II Timothy 4:7). Both reflections help us to deepen
our own faith commitments to union with Christ and to the mission of Christ
in today's world of selfishness. We like Paul are to become effective
agents of redemptive change.
In the Gospel we are again led to the watershed experience of the
apostles of Jesus, where he asks them at Caesarea Phillipi, "Who do people
say that I am?" Jesus addresses all twelve of them, but it is only Peter
who is given a revelation from God the Father that makes him respond, "You
are the Son of the living God." It is then that Jesus confers on him the
keys of the kingdom of heaven."
The hymn at Morning Praise is dedicated to the city of Rome:
"Rejoice, O Rome, this day; thy walls they once did sign
With princely blood, who now share their glory share with thee.
What city's vesture glows with crimson deep as thine?
What beauty else has earth that may compare with thee? (Text : Elphis
, c. 493 A.D., wife of Boethius).

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A. Scripture: II Kings 4:8-11.
14-16. Psalm 89:2-3,16, 17, 18-19. Matthew 10:37-42. Lectionary # 98:

Hospitality is a great gift that touches both the spiritual and
temporal needs of humankind. We express our love for our friends by
inviting to share our home, our food and our company. This includes even
offering some of them lodging for the night. We see a great example of
this in the narrative our first reading. Where a loving couple invite
Elijah the prophet and provide for his needs. They are led to even offer
him a small room for his prayer and sleep. He may come and go as he wishes.
This is a beautiful example of what hospitality is all about.
The second part of today's Gospel also contains the them of
hospitality and Jesus may be even thinking of the event of hospitality seen
in the first reading. He proclaims that by welcoming someone we welcome him
as Lord as well, that is, we welcome as Christians, Jesus in the person of
the other. A reward ensues in both of our readings. Virtue is often its
own reward and here it is quite evident that the selfless giving of
ourselves in the work of hospitality brings a blessing upon the host or
hostess.
Hospitality is one of the foundations of friendship and community
life. In religious communities, in monasteries and convents when
hospitality is offered to persons they often are attracted to this form of
life. Inviting people we make them feel at home, loved, and enjoyed for who
they are. Jesus himself enjoyed hospitality with real people like Martha
and Mary, Matthew the tax collector, and Zacchaeus who climbed a tree to
see Jesus and after being recognized invited Jesus to dine with him. Amen.