Kapamilya Gospel

[Leo Lastimosa]

DAILY GOSPEL «Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6:68 Friday, 22 June 2012 Friday of the Eleventh week in Ordinary Time Saint(s) of the day : St. Thomas More, Martyr (1478-1535),  St. John Fisher, Bishop and Martyr (1459-1535) See commentary below or click here Saint Caesarius of Arles : "Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be" 2nd book of Kings 11:1-4.9-18.20. When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she began to kill off the whole royal family. But Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash, his son, and spirited him away, along with his nurse, from the bedroom where the princes were about to be slain. She concealed him from Athaliah, and so he did not die. For six years he remained hidden in the temple of the LORD, while Athaliah ruled the land. But in the seventh year, Jehoiada summoned the captains of the Carians and of the guards. He had them come to him in the temple of the LORD, exacted from them a sworn commitment, and then showed them the king's son. The captains did just as Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each one with his men, both those going on duty for the sabbath and those going off duty that week, came to Jehoiada the priest. He gave the captains King David's spears and shields, which were in the temple of the LORD. And the guards, with drawn weapons, lined up from the southern to the northern limit of the enclosure, surrounding the altar and the temple on the king's behalf. Then Jehoiada led out the king's son and put the crown and the insignia upon him. They proclaimed him king and anointed him, clapping their hands and shouting, "Long live the king!" Athaliah heard the noise made by the people, and appeared before them in the temple of the LORD. When she saw the king standing by the pillar, as was the custom, and the captains and trumpeters near him, with all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets, she tore her garments and cried out, "Treason, treason!" Then Jehoiada the priest instructed the captains in command of the force: "Bring her outside through the ranks. If anyone follows her," he added, "let him die by the sword." He had given orders that she should not be slain in the temple of the LORD. She was led out forcibly to the horse gate of the royal palace, where she was put to death. Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD as one party and the king and the people as the other, by which they would be the LORD'S people; and another covenant, between the king and the people. Thereupon all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and demolished it. They shattered its altars and images completely, and slew Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altars. After appointing a detachment for the temple of the LORD, Jehoiada All the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet, now that Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the royal palace. Psalms 132(131):11.12.13-14.17-18. The LORD swore to David A firm promise from which he will not withdraw: "Your own offspring I will set upon your throne." "If your sons keep my covenant And the decrees which I shall teach them, Their sons, too, forever Shall sit upon your throne." For the LORD has chosen Zion; He prefers her for his dwelling. "Zion is my resting place forever; In her will I dwell, for I prefer her." "In her will I make a horn to sprout forth for David; I will place a lamp for my anointed. His enemies I will clothe with shame, But upon him my crown shall shine." Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 6:19-23. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be. Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB Commentary of the day : Saint Caesarius of Arles (470-543), monk and Bishop Sermon 32, 1-3 ; SC 243 "Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be" God accepts our offerings of money and is pleased with the gifts we make to the poor, but on one condition: that every sinner, when offering God his money, should offer him his soul at the same time... When our Lord says: “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” (Mk 12,17), what does he seem to say but: “Just as you repay Caesar with his own image on a coin so repay God with the image of God within yourselves” (cf. Gn 1,26)... That is why, as we have already said on numerous occasions, when we hand out money to the poor let us offer our souls to God so that, where our treasure is, there our heart may also be. Indeed, why does God ask us to give money? Unquestionably because he knows the special love we have for it, that we are always thinking about it and that, where our money is, there too is our heart. That is why God urges us to make up our treasure in heaven by making gifts of it to the poor; it is so that our hearts may follow where we have already sent our treasure and that, when the priest says: “Lift up your hearts” we may answer with peaceful conscience: “We lift them up to the Lord.”

[Leo Lastimosa]

DAILY GOSPEL «Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6:68

Saturday, 23 June 2012 Saturday of the Eleventh week in Ordinary Time Saint(s) of the day : St. Etheldreda, abbess (7th century)

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Saint Raphael Arnaiz Baron : "If God so clothes the grass of the field... will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?" 2nd book of Chronicles 24:17-25. After the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and the king then listened to them. They forsook the temple of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and began to serve the sacred poles and the idols; and because of this crime of theirs, wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem. Although prophets were sent to them to convert them to the LORD, the people would not listen to their warnings. Then the spirit of God possessed Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest. He took his stand above the people and said to them: "God says, 'Why are you transgressing the LORD'S commands, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have abandoned the LORD, he has abandoned you.'" But they conspired against him, and at the king's order they stoned him to death in the court of the LORD'S temple. Thus King Joash was unmindful of the devotion shown him by Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, and slew his son. And as he was dying, he said, "May the LORD see and avenge." At the turn of the year a force of Arameans came up against Joash. They invaded Judah and Jerusalem, did away with all the princes of the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. Though the Aramean force came with few men, the LORD surrendered a very large force into their power, because Judah had abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers. So punishment was meted out to Joash. After the Arameans had departed from him, leaving him in grievous suffering, his servants conspired against him because of the murder of the son of Jehoiada the priest. They killed him on his sickbed. He was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. Psalms 89(88):4-5.29-30.31-32.33-34. "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: Forever will I confirm your posterity And establish your throne for all generations." "Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him, And my covenant with him stands firm. I will make his posterity endure forever And his throne as the days of heaven." "If his sons forsake my law And walk not according to my ordinances, If they violate my statutes And keep not my commands." "I will punish their crime with a rod And their guilt with stripes. Yet my mercy I will not take from him, Nor will I belie my faithfulness." Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 6:24-34. Jesus said to his disciples: «No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?' All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB Commentary of the day :

Saint Raphael Arnaiz Baron (1911-1938), a Spanish Trappist monk To know how to wait, 04/03/1938, (trans. Mairin Mitchell) "If God so clothes the grass of the field... will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?" Today I take up my pen in the name of God, so that my words, imprinting themselves on the white paper, may give service in perpetual praise of God, the blessed author of my life, my soul, my heart. I would like the whole Universe, with all the planets, stars, and the countless sidereal systems, to be a vast smooth surface on which could be written the name of God. I would like my voice to be stronger than a thousand thunders, more powerful than the surge of the sea, more fearful than the eruption of volcanoes, only to say the name of God. I would like my heart to be as great as Heaven, pure as that of the angels, guileless as that of the dove (Mt 10,16), so that it could possess God. But as none of these grandiose dreams can be realized, satisfy yourself, Brother Rafael, with little, and you who are nothing, that very nothing must suffice... Why keep silent about it? Why hide it? Why not cry out to the whole world, and proclaim to the four winds the wonders of God? Why not say to everyone what they would like to hear: “You see what I am? You see what I was? You see my wretchedness dragged through the mire? No matter – marvel at it – in spite of everything, I have God. God is my friend!” God loves me so deeply that if the whole world understood this everyone would go mad and shout in sheer amazement. Still more, all that is but a little. God loves me so much that the angels themselves don't understand it! (cf. 1Pt 1,12) How great is the mercy of God! To love me, to be my friend, my brother, my father, my master. To be God! And I to be what I am! Oh Jesus! I don't have paper or pen. What can I say? How am I not to go mad!

[Leo Lastimosa]

DAILY GOSPEL «Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6:68

Tuesday, 26 June 2012 Tuesday of the Twelfth week in Ordinary Time Saint(s) of the day : St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer - Priest, Founder of Opus Dei - (1902-1975),  Bl. Jacques Ghazir Haddad, Priest and Founder of Congragation (1875-1954)

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Saint Benedict : “ Enter through the narrow gate ” 2nd book of Kings 19:9b-11.14-21.31-35a.36. The king of Assyria heard a report that Tirhakah, king of Ethiopia, had come out to fight against him. Again he sent envoys to Hezekiah with this message: "Thus shall you say to Hezekiah, king of Judah: 'Do not let your God on whom you rely deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria. You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all other countries: they doomed them! Will you, then, be saved? Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; then he went up to the temple of the LORD, and spreading it out before him, he prayed in the LORD'S presence: "O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned upon the cherubim! You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made the heavens and the earth. Incline your ear, O LORD, and listen! Open your eyes, O LORD, and see! Hear the words of Sennacherib which he sent to taunt the living God. Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, and cast their gods into the fire; they destroyed them because they were not gods, but the work of human hands, wood and stone. Therefore, O LORD, our God, save us from the power of this man, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God." Then Isaiah, son of Amoz, sent this message to Hezekiah: "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, in answer to your prayer for help against Sennacherib, king of Assyria: I have listened! This is the word the LORD has spoken concerning him: " 'She despises you, laughs you to scorn, the virgin daughter Zion! Behind you she wags her head, daughter Jerusalem. For out of Jerusalem shall come a remnant, and from Mount Zion, survivors. The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.' "Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: 'He shall not reach this city, nor shoot an arrow at it, nor come before it with a shield, nor cast up siege-works against it. He shall return by the same way he came, without entering the city, says the LORD. I will shield and save this city for my own sake, and for the sake of my servant David.'" That night the angel of the LORD went forth and struck down one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. Early the next morning, there they were, all the corpses of the dead. So Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, broke camp, and went back home to Nineveh. Psalms 48(47):2-3ab.3cd-4.10-11. Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised In the city of our God. His holy mountain, fairest of heights, is the joy of all the earth. Mount Zion, "the recesses of the North," is the city of the great King. Mount Zion, "the recesses of the North," Is the city of the great King. God is with her castles; Renowned is he as a stronghold. O God, we ponder your mercy Within your temple. As your name, O God, so also your praise Reaches to the ends of the earth. Of justice your right hand is full. Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 7:6.12-14. Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces. Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets. Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB Commentary of the day :

Saint Benedict (480-547), monk The Rule, Prologue “ Enter through the narrow gate ” The Lord, seeking his laborer in the multitude to whom he thus cries out, says again, "Who would have life and desires to see good days?" (Ps. 34:13) And if, hearing him, you answer, "I am the one," God says to you, "If you will have true and everlasting life, keep your tongue from evil and your lips that they speak no guile. Turn away from evil and do good; seek after peace and pursue it" (Ps. 34:14-15)... What can be sweeter to us, dear brothers, than this voice of the Lord inviting us? In his loving kindness the Lord shows us the way of life. Having our loins girded, therefore, with faith and the performance of good works (Eph. 6:14), let us walk in his paths by the guidance of the Gospel, that we may deserve to see him who has called us to his Kingdom (1 Th 2:12). For if we wish to dwell in the tent of that kingdom, we must run to it by good deeds or we shall never reach it. Let us ask the Lord, with the prophet, "Lord, who shall dwell in your tent, or who shall rest upon your holy mountain?" (Ps. 15:1) After this question, brothers, let us listen to the Lord as he answers and shows us the way...       And so we are going to establish a school for the service of the Lord. In founding it we hope to introduce nothing harsh or burdensome. But if a certain strictness results from the dictates of equity for the amendment of vices or the preservation of charity, do not be at once dismayed and fly from the way of salvation, whose entrance cannot but be narrow. For as we advance in life and in faith, our hearts expand and we run the way of God's commandments with unspeakable sweetness of love (Ps. 119:32). Thus, never departing from his schooling but persevering in the monastery according to his teaching until death, we may by patience share in the sufferings of Christ (1 Peter 4:13) and deserve to have a share also in his Kingdom.

[Leo Lastimosa]

DAILY GOSPEL «Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6:68

Wednesday, 27 June 2012 Feast of the Church : Our Lady of Perpetual Help Saint(s) of the day : St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (+ 444)

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Saint Augustine : "By their fruits you will know them"

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB Commentary of the day :

Saint Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo (North Africa) and Doctor of the Church Commentary on the Lord's Sermon on the Mount, ch. 24, §80-81 (trans. ©The Fathers of the Church, 1951) "By their fruits you will know them" We should inquire as to the kind of fruit the Lord wishes us to recognize, so that we may be able to distinguish the tree. Many persons reckon as fruits certain things which are indeed the suitable clothing of sheep, for instance, fastings, prayers, and almsgivings. Such people are deceived by wolves, for, if these things could not be done also by hypocrites, the Lord would not have previously said: “Take heed not to practice your righteousness before men, in order to be seen by them” (Mt 6,1)... Many persons bestow much upon the poor, not through mercy, but for the sake of display; many persons pray-or, rather, they seem to pray-without directing their attention toward God, but seeking to please men; and many persons fast and display a wonderful degree of self-denial before those who think such things difficult and praiseworthy... These are not the fruits by which a tree can be recognized in accordance with the Lord's admonition. When these things are truly done with a good intention, they are rightly called the clothing of sheep... The Apostle Paul tells us what are the known fruits by which we may recognize a bad tree. He says: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest: they are immorality, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, witchcraft, enmity, contention, jealousy, animosity, quarrels, heresies, faction, envy, drunkenness, carousings, and such like things” (Gal 5,19-21)...  And the same Apostle goes on to tell us also what are the fruits by which we may recognize a good tree, for he says: “But the fruit of the spirit is: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, modesty, continence” (vv. 22-23). So, also, the word 'joy' is likewise used in its proper sense here, for evil men are not said to rejoice, but to enjoy pleasure... It is in this proper sense that the good use the word when they say: “Rejoicing is not for the wicked, says the Lord” (Is 57,21 cf. Vg.)... The same applies to the true faith. In wicked and deceitful men there are also certain semblances of the other virtues... that may thoroughly deceive anyone who does not keep clear and single the eye through which one is able to recognize those virtues.

[Leo Lastimosa]

DAILY GOSPEL «Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6:68

Thursday, 28 June 2012 Thursday of the Twelfth week in Ordinary Time Saint(s) of the day : St. Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr (+ 202) - Memorial

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Life of St Francis of Assisi known as the “Assisi compilation” : A sensible man builds his house on rock 2nd book of Kings 24:8-17. Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Nehushta, daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his forebears had done. At that time the officials of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, attacked Jerusalem, and the city came under siege. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, himself arrived at the city while his servants were besieging it. Then Jehoiachin, king of Judah, together with his mother, his ministers, officers, and functionaries, surrendered to the king of Babylon, who, in the eighth year of his reign, took him captive. He carried off all the treasures of the temple of the LORD and those of the palace, and broke up all the gold utensils that Solomon, king of Israel, had provided in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had foretold. He deported all Jerusalem: all the officers and men of the army, ten thousand in number, and all the craftsmen and smiths. None were left among the people of the land except the poor. He deported Jehoiachin to Babylon, and also led captive from Jerusalem to Babylon the king's mother and wives, his functionaries, and the chief men of the land. The king of Babylon also led captive to Babylon all seven thousand men of the army, and a thousand craftsmen and smiths, all of them trained soldiers. In place of Jehoiachin, the king of Babylon appointed his uncle Mattaniah king, and changed his name to Zedekiah. Psalms 79(78):1b-2.3-5.8.9. O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; They have given the corpses of your servants As food to the birds of heaven, The flesh of your faithful ones to the beasts of the earth. They have poured out their blood like water Round about Jerusalem, And there is no one to bury them. We have become the reproach of our neighbors, The scorn and derision of those around us. O LORD, how long? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire? Remember not against us the iniquities of the past; May your compassion quickly come to us, For we are brought very low. Help us, O God our savior, Because of the glory of your name; Deliver us and pardon our sins For your name's sake. Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 7:21-29. Jesus said to his disciples: «Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?' Then I will declare to them solemnly, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.' Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined." When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB Commentary of the day :

Life of St Francis of Assisi known as the “Assisi compilation” (13th century) §9 (trans. ©Franciscan Institute of Saint Bonaventure University, 2000) A sensible man builds his house on rock From the beginning of his conversion blessed Francis, with God's help, like a wise man, established himself and his house, that is, the religion, upon a firm rock, the greatest humility and poverty of the Son of God, calling it the religion of "Lesser Brothers." On the greatest humility: thus at the beginning of the religion, after the brothers grew in number, he wanted the brothers to stay in hospitals of lepers to serve them. At that time whenever nobles and commoners came to the religion, they were told, among other things, that they had to serve the lepers and stay in their houses. On the greatest poverty: as stated in the Rule, let the brothers “remain as strangers and pilgrims” in the houses in which they stay. “Let them not seek to have anything” under heaven, except holy poverty, by which, in this world, they are nourished by the Lord with bodily food and virtue, and, in the next, will attain a heavenly inheritance . Francis established himself on the greatest poverty and humility, because, although he was a great prelate in the Church of God, he wanted and chose to be lowly not only in the Church of God, but also among his brothers.

[Leo Lastimosa]

DAILY GOSPEL «Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6:68

Friday, 29 June 2012 Saint Peter and Saint Paul, apostles - Solemnity Feast of the Church : Saints Peter and Paul - Solemnity

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Isaac of Stella : « I have become all things to all... not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, that they may be saved» (1Cor 9,22; 10,33) Acts of the Apostles 12:1-11. About that time 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." Psalms 34(33):2-3.4-5.6-7.8-9. 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. 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. 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. 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. Second Letter to Timothy 4:6-8.17-18. For I 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. But 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. Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 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 Messiah, 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."

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB Commentary of the day :

Isaac of Stella (?-c.1171), Cistercian monk Sermon 49, 1st for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul ; SC 339 « I have become all things to all... not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, that they may be saved» (1Cor 9,22; 10,33) “These were men of mercy whose good deeds shall not be forgotten; the wealth they have left their inheritance will last for ever” (Latin liturgy; cf. Sir 44,10-11).” Today, beloved, we are celebrating the birthday of the apostles Peter and Paul and it is altogether fitting that... such a death should be called 'birth' since it gave birth to life... See to what the saints have come: through the death that bestows life, they leave this life that leads to death so as to come to that life-giving life which is in the hands of Him who, as Christ said: “has life in Himself” - the Father (Jn 5,26)... There are three kinds of people who are merciful. The first give of their goods... so as to contribute out of their superfluity to the penury of their neighbor... The second give all their goods away and, for them... everything is held in common with others from then on... But as for the third, they not only expend all they have but are “themselves utterly spent” (2Cor 12,15) and give themselves up in person to the dangers of prison, exile and death so that they may rescue others from the dangers in which their souls are lying. They pour themselves out because they are so full of ardent desire for others. They will receive the reward of that love of which “there is no greater: to lay down one's life for one's friends” (Jn 15,13)... Such are those glorious princes of the earth and servants of heaven of whom today – after long privations “from hunger and thirst, cold and nakedness”, exhaustion and danger, “from their own race, from Gentiles, from false brethren” (2Cor 11,26-27) – we celebrate the death that was so magnificently victorious. To such as these the saying well applies: “Their good deeds shall never be forgotten” because they have not forgotten mercy... Yes, to the merciful, “their lot has fallen in a pleasant land, their inheritance is without compare” (Ps 16[15],6).