20250629 CELEBRATING THE PAST WITH GRATITUDE; WELCOMING THE FUTURE WITH HOPE
29 June 2025, Sunday, Sts Peter and Paul, Apostles
First reading | Acts 12:1-11 |
'Now I know the Lord really did save me from Herod'
King Herod started persecuting certain members of the Church. He beheaded James the brother of John, and when he saw that this pleased the Jews he decided to arrest Peter as well. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread, and he put Peter in prison, assigning four squads of four soldiers each to guard him in turns. Herod meant to try Peter in public after the end of Passover week. All the time Peter was under guard the Church prayed to God for him unremittingly.
On the night before Herod was to try him, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with double chains, while guards kept watch at the main entrance to the prison. Then suddenly the angel of the Lord stood there, and the cell was filled with light. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him. ‘Get up!’ he said ‘Hurry!’ – and the chains fell from his hands. The angel then said, ‘Put on your belt and sandals.’ After he had done this, the angel next said, ‘Wrap your cloak round you and follow me.’ Peter followed him, but had no idea that what the angel did was all happening in reality; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed through two guard posts one after the other, and reached the iron gate leading to the city. This opened of its own accord; they went through it and had walked the whole length of one street when suddenly the angel left him. It was only then that Peter came to himself. ‘Now I know it is all true’ he said. ‘The Lord really did send his angel and has saved me from Herod and from all that the Jewish people were so certain would happen to me.’
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 33(34):2-9 |
From all my terrors the Lord set me free.
or
The angel of the Lord rescues those who revere him.
I will bless the Lord at all times,
his praise always on my lips;
in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.
The humble shall hear and be glad.
From all my terrors the Lord set me free.
or
The angel of the Lord rescues those who revere him.
Glorify the Lord with me.
Together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord and he answered me;
from all my terrors he set me free.
From all my terrors the Lord set me free.
or
The angel of the Lord rescues those who revere him.
Look towards him and be radiant;
let your faces not be abashed.
This poor man called, the Lord heard him
and rescued him from all his distress.
From all my terrors the Lord set me free.
or
The angel of the Lord rescues those who revere him.
The angel of the Lord is encamped
around those who revere him, to rescue them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
He is happy who seeks refuge in him.
From all my terrors the Lord set me free.
or
The angel of the Lord rescues those who revere him.
Second reading |
2 Timothy 4:6-8,17-18 |
All there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me
My life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to be gone. I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his Appearing.
The Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear; and so I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Gospel Acclamation | Mt16:18 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.
And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it.
Alleluia!
Gospel |
Matthew 16:13-19 |
You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’
CELEBRATING THE PAST WITH GRATITUDE; WELCOMING THE FUTURE WITH HOPE
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Acts 12: 1-11; Ps 34:2-9; 2 Tim 4:6-8, 17-18; Mt 16:13-19]
Today, we celebrate the Feast of Sts Peter and Paul. In a special way, we also commemorate the 155th anniversary of the founding of the Church of Sts Peter and Paul in our Archdiocese. The theme of this celebration is, “Celebrating the past with gratitude, welcoming the future with hope.” As this feast is not merely a local event but a celebration of the Universal Church, we are reminded of the Petrine ministry of the Holy Father – especially now, as we have just witnessed the passing of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo.
Indeed, it is also an occasion to for us to thank God for the gift of Pope Francis to the Church and humanity. He was a pope with a missionary outlook, known for reminding us that we are all missionary disciples. He did much for the Church in terms of outreach to the neglected and marginalised within both society and the Church. He strengthened the Catholicity of the Church by appointing cardinals even from the peripheries. His compassion for the poor and the suffering extended to those facing discrimination and or living in war-torn countries. He underscored the need for pastoral conversion if the Church were to be effective in her missionary mandate. This means that everyone in the Church, especially its leaders, must undergo a change of heart – from one of domination to one of inclusive leadership and humble service. He has made the Church more welcoming and inclusive by involving more laity and women in decision-making. His key initiative – setting the Church on a more synodal and co-responsible path – has helped the Church journey together in faith, love, and in hope.
With the death of Pope Francis, the election of Pope Leo has brought new hope to the Church. As the Holy Father, he is now tasked with charting the course he believes the Church should take. Every pope brings his own unique charism, and we must not assume that the ministry of the new Holy Father would simply replicate that of his predecessor. The Lord will show Pope Leo in discerning what initiatives begun by Pope Francis are to be continued and strengthened, and what new direction are needed for the Church in this time. There will certainly be continuity, but also new developments, different emphasis, and new ways of proclaiming the Gospel message to humanity. Like Pope Francis, Pope Leo recognises the urgency of promoting peace and unity in a very fragile and divided world. Fittingly, his first words to the faithful gathered at St Peter’s Square were, “Peace be with you.”
But talking about peace-building or unity cannot be reduced to empty words – it must begin within the Church itself. Pope Leo seeks to be a Pope who unites all. He understands the division within the Church today, often stemming from a lack of doctrinal clarity and disagreements over liturgical rites. Hence, in a subtle yet significant gesture, he donned the traditional red velvet mozzetta during his first public appearances – an indication of respect for tradition. He also sought to engage the Eastern Rite Churches, offering assurance of his support and appreciation of their distinctive liturgical expressions. At the same time, his Augustinian spirituality is evident in his speeches, encouraging the Church to cherish and delight in the ancient traditions she has inherited. But this does not imply a retreat from engaging the modern world. On the contrary, the Church must show herself to be creative and outward-looking in her mission. Pope Leo made it a point to thank Pope Francis and visited his tomb to pay respects – an act that acknowledges the value of continuity, especially in the positive reforms and initiatives of his predecessor. So there is much work to be done – both in healing internal divisions with the Church and in reaching out to a fractured world. For the Holy Father is called to reflect the face of Christ in the world.
Although each may bring his own nuances to the Petrine ministry, both understand that it is not enough to serve merely as a pastor of the Universal Church – they are also called to extend the gospel to all nations. The Holy Father continues not only the ministry of Peter, the pastor, but also embraces the missionary spirit of St Paul, reaching out to the nations with the message of Christ. Hence, the Feasts of Sts Peter and Paul always go together because the Church is what it is today only because of the pastoral guidance of St Peter and the missionary dimension of St Paul. The popes before Pope Leo, beginning with Pope Paul VI, have consistently underscored the importance of the Church’s missionary nature. For the Church to fulfil her mission and remain true to her identity, she must be zealous in proclaiming Christ to the world. Indeed, confessing Jesus as the Christ and the Son of God is at the heart of her mission.
Like St Paul, we are all called to give our lives totally for the spread of the gospel. He wrote, “As for me, my life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to be gone. I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me.” Indeed, we must never be inward-looking. If we are concerned about the renewal of the Church and the faith of our people, it is in order that we help them to become missionary disciples.
As we celebrate 155 years of this parish’s history, much have evolved. From being a parish originally established for the Teochew Catholic community, it has grown into a city parish where most parishioners now come from all over the archdiocese. Looking ahead, the parish must think creatively about how to attract not only Catholics from around Singapore but also to reach out to non-Catholics who may encounter the Church of Sts Peter and Paul in the heart of the city. The parish can leverage its central location to attract those who are non-Catholic to come to know Christ. For Sts Peter and Paul, everyone in the city can be considered a parishioner – even those simply passing through. The challenge is to become more evangelizing, especially toward the young people studying in the many tertiary institutions nearby, including the arts schools and universities in the district. While the parish was once under the care of diocesan priests, it is now pastored by the Carmelite Fathers, following a mutual agreement. This presents a special opportunity for the Carmelite Fathers to not only shepherd the community but also to share the richness of the Carmelite tradition with the people of God.
Now that we have also just completed our Archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly, the Archdiocese is moving towards building a vibrant, evangelizing and missionary Church by focusing on the five priorities. The pastoral plan, which resulted from extensive consultations with our priests, religious and laity, will help us carry out our mission effectively. It begins by strengthening the faith of our priests, religious and laity through spiritual, theological and pastoral formation. Secondly, it seeks to rally the Church to work together, journey together, and collaborate for the mission of communion. The parish of Sts Peter and Paul will need to consider how best to work with the other the parishes in Singapore to build a vibrant, missionary and evangelizing Church. This is where we look to the future with hope. Great things are in store for those who are ready to respond to the call.
We must remember that the Church is the Body of Christ. As St Paul says, if one member of the body is hurt, the entire body suffers. So too, if one part of the Church is weak, it can affect the vitality of the whole Church. That is why it is essential that we work together in communion and in mission for the greater good of the Church. We need to cooperate with our pastors to ensure that all of us are walking together in faith and in love. Of course, we also recognize the uniqueness of each parish – its strengths and its weaknesses. In your own ways, and according to the resources available to you, you will contribute to the Archdiocese’s efforts to strengthen the missionary zeal of our fellow Catholics. We must be creative. Especially given your privileged position in the city, you have greater opportunities to reach out not just to locals but to visitors from other countries.
Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections
- Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
- Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
- It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.
Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
