JUNE 29TH, SAINTS PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES (Commemoration of the Third Sunday after Pentecost)

Month in honor of the Most Sacred Heart of OLJC.

From the Roman Breviary, III. Nocturn —

Commentary by St. Jerome, Priest at Bethlehem.
Bk. iii Comment. on Matth. xvi

"Who do men say that I, the Son of man, am?" This question is well put, for they who speak of Him as "the Son of man" are men, while they that know of Him that He is God are called not men but, as it were, "gods." And they responded: "Some say that Thou art John the Baptist, some, Elias." I marvel that some commentators have thought it worth their while to search into the origin of each of these blunders, and to engage in a discussion of wearisome length as to why some thought that our Lord Jesus Christ was John the Baptist, some, Elias and others, Jeremias, or one of the Prophets. These blunders concerning Elias and Jeremias were but of a piece with Herod's concerning John the Baptist: "He is John, whom I beheaded; he is risen from the dead and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him" (Mark vi. 16, 14). "But who say ye that I am?" Pay attention, thoughtful Reader, to what follows as a consequence from the context, that a distinction is here drawn between the Apostles and mere men, for the Apostles are called "gods." "Who," asketh the Lord, "do men say that I am," and then, on the other hand, "who say ye that I am?" Those, being but men, deal in human speculations, but ye that are gods, who be ye persuaded that I am? And then Peter, as the representative of all the Apostles, uttered the testimony: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." He says, "the living God" to mark the difference between Him [the true God] and all others that are called gods, and who are indeed dead [that is, life-less]. And Jesus answered and said unto him: "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona [son of John]." The Apostle having testified of the Lord, the Lord in turn testifieth of the Apostle. Peter had said: Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God, and Peter received, in return for that his testimony to the truth, these words: "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona." Why blessed? "For flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father." What flesh and blood could not reveal, the grace of the Holy Ghost had revealed. Appropriate for him therefore, because of his confession, is his name, as the name of one who hath revelation from the Holy Ghost, and therefore is called His son. Bar-Jona is, can be interpreted as The-son-of-the-Dove.