God Has Plans for You
Jun 29: Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
Nobody really knows what God has in store for us. Peter was a fisherman and Paul was a tentmaker before they met Jesus. Paul persecuted Christians, only to become one of the greatest missionaries of Christianity. Peter denied Jesus in His hour of greatest need, yet Jesus chose him to lead the Church.
What unexpected plans does Jesus have for us?
Reading I
Acts 12:1-11
In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the Church to harm them. He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword, and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews he proceeded to arrest Peter also. –It was the feast of Unleavened Bread.– He had him taken into custody and put in prison under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. He intended to bring him before the people after Passover. Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayer by the Church was fervently being made to God on his behalf.
On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by double chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison. Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, “Get up quickly.”
The chains fell from his wrists. The angel said to him, “Put on your belt and your sandals.” He did so. Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.”
So he followed him out, not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first guard, then the second, and came to the iron gate leading out to the city, which opened for them by itself. They emerged and made their way down an alley, and suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter recovered his senses and said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting.”
We tend to think of Roman Emperors persecuting early Christians, but Jewish kings got in a decent amount of oppression, too. The Jewish Christians were losing popular support, and Herod Agrippa, like his dad, chose to bend to their will.
But God had more important things for Peter to do, and so had an angel free him. As often happens with Peter, he had some doubts. He thought his escape was just a vision, until he actually made it outside.
Peter didn’t understand the plan, but he accepted it. He found faith and believed.
Responsorial Psalm
34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
David wrote this song when he had fled Saul and escaped to the land of Israel’s enemies, the Philistines. Except there, he was recognized, and immediately brought to King Achish. Naturally, his plan is to pretend he’s gone crazy.
And you know what? It works! Achish said to his servants: “You see the man is mad. Why did you bring him to me? Do I not have enough madmen, that you bring this one to rant in my presence? Should this fellow come into my house?”1
But David doesn’t take credit for this ridiculous plan working. He thanks God, instead.
Reading II
2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18
I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.
The Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
This is the last of Paul’s epistles. He’s writing from jail, but he’s sure he won’t escape like Peter in today’s first reading.
But that’s not a lack of hope. In fact, Paul is full of hope! He’s confident that he’s done all he could do to spread the Gospel. Even the people at Paul’s final trial will hear it!
Paul doesn’t believe he’ll escape, but he does have confidence that God will rescue him “from every evil threat.” How does that make sense?
Because, as we heard Jesus say on Sunday, “do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.” Paul has hope in God, and thus doesn’t fear his jailers.
Alleluia
Mt 16:18
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mt 16:13-19
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Peter is aware of public sentiment, but unlike Herod, it has little influence on him. When Peter has doubts (which happens with surprising frequency), it’s his own internal debate, not external influence.2
Despite his inconstancy, Jesus still chooses Peter to lead the Church. Peter doesn’t yet know what that will entail, but he does have enough faith to accept the position. Like Paul, his life doesn’t end well, by Earthly standards—
But even in his execution, he proves his ultimate faith in Christ. He denies himself, saying he’s not worthy of dying the way Jesus did. He lives and dies in his faith that Jesus is the Messiah, and Son of the living God.
When Peter denies Jesus three times in the courtyard on Good Friday, he’s not really doubting; he knows who Jesus is. He’s just afraid of the crowd.