SOLEMNITY of STS. PETER and PAUL

Gospel Bullet Points (Matthew 16:13-19)

• For the celebration of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, we focus our reflection on Peter’s profession of faith.
• Jesus asked His apostles directly and bluntly: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
• The apostles answered: “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” But Jesus was not looking for an evaluation of how the people regarded him.
• His purpose was entirely different. He wanted their personal answer. So, He followed up with a second question: “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answers: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
• The question that Jesus asked his apostles is the very same question He is asking you today: Who do you say that I am?
• Let us pray to God our Father to grant us the grace to live our lives in a manner that witnesses powerfully to the truth that Jesus is truly the Son of God in our lives.

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Quote for the Day

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

In a homily preached in the year 395 AD, St Augustine said this:  Both apostles share the same feast day, for these two were one; and even though they suffered on different days, they were as one. Peter went first, and Paul followed. And so we celebrate this day made holy for us by the apostles’ blood. Let us embrace what they believed, their life, their labors, their sufferings, their preaching, and their confession of faith. ~Saint Augustine of Hippo ( Sermo 295, 1-2, 4, 7-8; PL 38, 1348-1352)