The Chains Fell from His Wrists: Reflections on the Readings for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles, Cycle C

Acts 12:1-11
Psalm 34
2 Timothy 4:6-8. 17-18
Matthew 16:13-19

Slaves and prisoners wear chains (sometimes invisible chains). Jesus said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave to sin.” (John 8:34) Jesus came to save us from our sins, to release the chains binding us. True, we are still sinners, it’s in our nature since Adam and Eve. But, through Jesus and the Church He founded, we have redemption and forgiveness of our sins, as He tells Peter in today’s gospel, when He gives him the power to bind and loose.

In the reading from Acts, Peter has been arrested by Herod (after Herod had James killed) who intended to kill him also. It is the feast of unleavened bread which begins with Passover and so the city is flush with Jews from all over. Herod, who was really a political figure, was looking for greater publicity. One of the first things we see is the power of prayer. Prayer figures strongly throughout the Bible, both Old Testament and New. It gets God’s attention. In the letter of St. James we read, “The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.” (5:16) And here the Church was fervently praying for Peter.

This prayer was answered by an angel of the Lord who touched Peter and told him to get up. As he did so ”the chains fell from his wrists.” Besides the actual rescue of Peter from the evil of sinful Herod, this is also symbolic of our rescue from sin by Jesus’ death and Resurrection.

The responsorial is once again from psalm 34, which is used 6 times in various Sunday liturgies (as are several other psalms). Its frequent use is probably due to the first part of today’s selection: “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.” The theme is not only that of rescue and glorifying God, but also that He hears the cry of the poor. Most important is the comment “blessed the man who takes refuge in Him.” This reminds us to always trust in the Lord. The results are to our benefit as we saw in the first reading.

The second reading from the second letter of Paul to Timothy describes a man sensing the end is near. The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible notes: “In many ways, 2 Timothy reads like a last will and testament. ... Paul himself has defended the Lord for years in the face of persecution and is now ready to give his life for Him Who has empowered him to preach the Christian message.”

The missing verses between the start and finish of this selection include some important information (like Luke being present with him and asking for Timothy to get Mark to help him) but are not important for the message of Paul’s reliance on the Lord. “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.” It ends with words we should all say daily, “To Him be glory forever and ever.  Amen.”

The gospel selection from Matthew has Jesus asking His apostles what people are saying about who He is. More importantly, after hearing their responses and speculation, He asks, “But who do you say that I am?” We hear Peter speak out boldly his witness to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” There are two important things about this statement. First, Peter identifies Him as the Christ, which means Messiah, the savior the Jews have been waiting for centuries to appear. Second, and perhaps even more important, he identifies Jesus as “the Son of the living God,” thus recognizing Jesus’ divinity.

Next Jesus declares that Peter will be the foundation of His Church “and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” He then gives Peter the keys to the Kingdom of heaven as well as the power to bind and loose (which includes the power to retain, as well). The “keys” is very symbolic of kingship and the role of the prime minister. Going back to the time of David we see that the prime minister has similar powers within the kingdom and also retains the keys. (See Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7) This is also a role that is handed down from one prime minister to another, as is the papacy and apostolic succession (see Acts 1:20).

Since this is a solemnity, there is also a vigil mass with its own set of readings. As we see in the readings for this mass during the day, they have similar themes: the works of Peter and Paul and their roles in the Church. In the first reading we see Peter and John going to prayer and meeting a man crippled from birth. It is Peter who heals him through the name of Jesus Christ. In his letter to the Galatians Paul declares that his teaching was a direct revelation from Jesus (see also Acts 9). Paul also acknowledges Peter’s standing in that, after 3 years of preaching he goes to Jerusalem and confers with Cephas (Peter) for 15 days (and no one else). And in the gospel we have Jesus after His Resurrection giving Peter the responsibility for His flock: “feed My lambs, ... tend My sheep, ... feed My sheep.” Thus even with the two greatest apostles we see the primacy of Peter, the first pope.

The Bible is one book with 73 chapters, not a collection of 73 books. We can see this regularly in the Mass readings and so it is today. It is one big, great story with a multitude of connections, such as the keys to the Kingdom prefigured in the Old Testament and fulfilled again in the New with the designation of Peter as Jesus’ prime minister and shepherd on earth. Jesus said He would not leave us orphans, which is why He established the Church and an earthly shepherd whose office would be passed down through the ages. And, as we saw in the readings for Pentecost, He sent the Holy Spirit to guide us and His Church.

Included in the requirement to trust in the Lord is the requirement to trust the Church He founded and supports with the Holy Spirit. As St. Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians, “the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church.” (Ephesians 3:10) The Church is our path to Jesus without Whom no one can be saved. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by me.’” (John 14:6)

“This does not mean that only Christians can be saved. But it means that when anyone is saved, it is Christ who saves him. … Christians don’t claim to be the only ones who are saved. But they do claim that Jesus is the only Savior ...” Dr. Peter Kreeft, Because God is Real