The Catholic Parish of
Saint John Henry Newman

 Covering most of East Leeds

The Word This Week ~ 29 June 2014

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First Reading: Acts 12:1-11

The early Christian Church was an underground movement built on the teachings of an executed prophet and led by a man who has denied his leader three times. From a sociological perspective, it is amazing that the
Christian Church has survived the test of time. Just as Peter’s life and legacy was protected and provided for by God, the endurance of our Church is not due to human success, but to divine protection.


Second Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18

The words of St Paul in this letter to Timothy are profound. Having raised Christian churches all over the Roman Empire, he now writes from his prison cell. His words cut to the very heart of what it means to be fulfilled as a human being, of how it feels to have “fought the good fight”. Even in the antechamber of death, Paul’s faith is in the Lord and his eyes are on heaven.


Gospel Reading: Matthew 16:13-19

From the Gospel accounts, it seems that Jesus saw something in Peter that no one else did. Though Peter frequently misunderstands Jesus and is troubled by waves of doubt throughout his discipleship, this Gospel
moment reveals the true essence of Peter, a man of profound insight who sees beyond the exterior. In proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah, Peter makes a declaration of faith on behalf of all the disciples, thus establishing himself as the rock on which Jesus founded his Church. It may seem almost comical to describe a man as changeable and impulsive as Peter as a rock, but God does not see people as we see people. God sees beyond.



Published Sun 29th Jun 2014 00:19:59

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