Gospel of 29 June 2018

Saints Peter and Paul, apostles, solemnity

Acts of the Apostles 12,1-11.
At that time, King Herod began to persecute some members of the Church
and had James the brother of John killed by the sword.
Seeing that this was pleasing to the Jews, he decided to arrest Peter too. Those were the days of Unleavened Bread.
Having been captured, he threw him in prison, handing him over to four stakes of four soldiers each, with the intention of making him appear before the people after Easter.
Peter was therefore kept in prison, while a prayer incessantly ascended to God from the Church for him.
And on that night, when Herod was about to make him appear before the people, Peter guarded by two soldiers and tied with two chains was sleeping, while the sentries guarded the prison in front of the door.
And behold an angel of the Lord presented himself to him and a light shone in the cell. He touched Peter's side, aroused him and said: "Get up quickly!". And the chains fell from his hands.
And the angel to him: "Put your belt on and tie your sandals." And so he did. The angel said, "Wrap your cloak, and follow me!"
Peter went out and followed him, but he had not yet realized that what was happening was the reality of the angel: he believed he had a vision.
They passed the first guard and the second and arrived at the iron door that leads into the city: the door opened by itself in front of them. They went out, walked a road and suddenly the angel disappeared from him.
Then Peter, inside himself, said: "Now I am truly sure that the Lord has sent his angel and has torn me from the hand of Herod and from all that the people of the Jews expected".

Salmi 34(33),2-3.4-5.6-7.8-9.
I will bless the Lord at all times,
his praise always on my mouth.
I glory in the Lord,
listen to the humble and rejoice.

Celebrate the Lord with me,
let's celebrate his name together.
I looked for the Lord and he answered me
and from all fears he freed me.

Look at him and you will be radiant,
your faces will not be confused.
This poor man cries and the Lord listens to him,
it frees him from all his anxieties.

The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him and save them.
Taste and see how good the Lord is;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Second letter of Saint Paul the apostle to Timothy 4,6-8.17-18.
Dearest, my blood is now about to be shed in libation and the time has come to untie the sails.
I fought the good fight, I finished my race, I kept the faith.
Now all I have left is the crown of justice that the Lord, just judge, will give me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all those who await its manifestation with love.
The Lord, however, was close to me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation of the message could be accomplished and all the Gentiles could hear it, and thus I was freed from the lion's mouth.
The Lord will free me from all evil and save me for his eternal kingdom; glory to him forever and ever.
Amen.

From the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 16,13-19.
At that time, having arrived in the region of Cesarèa di Filippo, he asked his disciples: «Who do people say that the Son of man is?».
They replied, "Some John the Baptist, others Elijah, others Jeremiah or some of the prophets."
He said to them, "Who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter replied: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
And Jesus: «Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because neither the flesh nor the blood has revealed it to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
And I say to you: You are Peter and on this stone I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and everything you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and everything you untie on earth will be melted in heaven. "