Peter & Paul

29th June SAINTS PETER AND PAUL Gospel Mt. 16: 13-19 Introduction to the Mass: The Gospel (Mt. 16-19) makes the Primacy of Peter is prominent but, in fact, Jesus makes the small word (Kago) ‘ALSO’ focal. Mat 16:18 - And I also say unto thee (k'agō de soi legō). “The emphasis is not on ‘Thou art Peter’ over against ‘Thou art the Christ,’ but on Kagō: ‘The Father hath revealed to thee one truth, and I also tell you another” (McNeile). Jesus, But who do you say that I am? Then Peter uttered that theological pronouncement: The Night Reading was put it very elegantly: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. What was the Saviour's reply? Blessed are you, Simon bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you. In other words, "It was not by remaining in your body of flesh and blood that you received this revelation about me; you had to be entirely outside the world of the senses to be initiated into the divine mysteries." Bishop Theophane twins Peter here with in these words: “In the same way, when Paul said that he had been raised to the third heaven and had heard words too sacred to tell, he had no need of bodily awareness when contemplating spiritual truths. As he himself declared: Whether in the body or out of the body I do not know.” It is a fine lesson to us to keep on the same spiritual focus, as we begin the Mass. … + + + + + + + + + + Night Reading: From a homily by Theophanes Cerameus (Horn. LV: PG 132,960-965) Theophane Cerameus (12thcent), comes from the ancient colonies Greek colonies of Sicily and Southern Italy. He was Archbishop of Rossano Southern Italy from 1129-1152. His sermons written in Greek were outstanding for the time, being remarkable especially for their simplicity and oratorical skill. (A Word in Season, Monastic Lectionary, 3 contributionsin this ‘anthology’, §65, §100 §150,). But who do you say that I am? It is as though the Lord said: "The general opinion is clearly much divided and uncertain, but since you have known me for such a long time, what is your judgment in the matter?" The rest of the disciples were lost for an answer; some perhaps were undecided, while others feared to seem rash. It was Peter, their leader, who became the spokesman for his companions. Transcending in thought the world of perception, he flew through the air to the heavens above, leaving the stars behind him and reaching further than the highest sphere. So he arrived in the spirit world, crossed the fiery rivers of the seraphim, and was taught by the Father about the nobility of his only-begotten Son. Then he uttered that theological pronouncement: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. What was the Saviour's reply? Blessed are you, Simon bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you. In other words, "It was not by remaining in your body of flesh and blood that you received this revelation about me; you had to be entirely outside the world of the senses to be initiated into the divine mysteries." In the same way, when Paul said that he had been raised to the third heaven and had heard words too sacred to tell, he had no need of bodily awareness when contemplating spiritual truths. As he himself declared: Whether in the body or out of the body I do not know. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church. "Because you are Peter," our Lord said, "you will be­come the rock of faith, the foundation stone of the Church, and the principal means for its spiritual construction. On this confession of yours that I am both Son of God and Son of Man the Church's foundation stone will be laid; for such a foundation provides a secure basis on which to build the remaining doctrines." And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The gates of hell which will not prevail against the Church are no doubt the tyrants who persecute it, and the founders of heresies. They are called the gates of hell figuratively because they drag their followers toward the snares of hell. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. The Lord did not say "I give you now," but "I will give you," foretelling what would happen after the resurrection. It was then that he granted Peter the grace of the Holy Spirit and the power of binding and loosing, and appointed him to be shepherd of his human flock. But what are the keys, and of what kind of door is Peter appointed the guardian? Christ is the door, as he himself declared; and the key to that door is faith, the faith which he entrusted to his chief disciple. The Lord has given the keys to Peter and his successors, then, to keep the door to the kingdom of heaven inaccessible to heretics and impenetrable by them, but easy for the faithful to enter, thus confirming his declaration: Without being born of water and the Spirit no one can enter the kingdom of heaven. The opponents and enemies of the faith are called the gates of hell, but the Lord Emmanuel is called the door and gateway to the kingdom of heaven, and he eagerly calls out to everyone: Whoever enters through me will be saved and Enter through the narrow gate and shun the wide streets that lead to hell.