What does the Word of God tell us this Sunday? June 29th, 2025

Jesús y sus apostoles

“AND WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?”

On this feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, the readings are distributed in such a way that the first focuses on the figure of Peter, with an episode of miraculous release from prison and death in Jerusalem. In the second, we have Paul’s farewell to his great collaborator and friend Timothy; And in the Gospel, we read the profession of faith of Peter and the other apostles when Jesus asked them, “Who do you say that I am?” This question was essential for both Peter and St. Paul. And it remains essential for each of us.

Both the episode of Peter in the Acts of the Apostles, and what Paul writes about himself in the second letter to Timothy, tell us moments of great difficulty and danger, as a consequence of the mission of preaching the Gospel. James had been beheaded by Herod’s orders (Acts 12:2) and Peter was in the same danger. For his part, Paul, writing from prison, also realizes that the end of his life is near; but far from being frightened or feeling like a failure, he shares his joy with Timothy, since “he has triumphed in the glorious struggle, he has finished his course, he has persevered in the faith, and he only hopes to receive the crown he deserves” (2 Tim 4:7-8).

Let us ask the Lord that our community and every Christian may find inspiration and help in the example of Peter and Paul, so that we too may respond to the call we have received, from the diversity of our Christian identity, but in the unity of faith centered on Christ and his Gospel.

Fr. Tarcisio