Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul
Reflection: Catholics still persecuted today
By SISTER CAROL DEMPSEY
Today’s readings for the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul provide us with a glimpse into the remarkable lives of two early Christians who endured persecution because of their faith.
While the church singles out these two individuals and recognizes them as “saints,” their experience of persecution, and in the case of Peter who suffered at the hands of an imperial and authoritative leader, is no different from the oppression that many Christians endure throughout the world today.
Organizations such as Christian Freedom International use the “World Watch List,” which documents the global persecution of Christians. Statistics indicate that to date, more than 380 million Christians suffer persecution and discrimination because of their faith. In North Korea, where extreme Christian oppression is at its peak, Christians are arrested, forced to work in labor camps and even executed. Nigeria tragically holds the highest count of killings of Christians. In Pakistan, Christian girls are increasingly being abducted and forced to marry older Muslim men.
In today’s reading from Acts, a divine angel comes to free Peter from unjust imprisonment. The Psalm celebrates the Sacred One coming to the aid of those in distress. The reading from 2 Timothy is a testimony to the divine aid that Paul received during his trials all speak of hope in the midst of Christian persecution and oppression.
But is there hope for persecuted and oppressed Christians today?
In Nicaragua, Catholic Bishop Rolando Jose Alvarez spoke out against the oppressive regime of Jose Daniel Ortega Saavedra — and was unjustly convicted of conspiracy and treason and eventually sentenced to 26 years in prison in 2023. Because of international pressure and sanctions, he was freed, expelled from the country and exiled to Vatican City. The divine “angel” came in the form of political and economic pressure exerted against a country’s dictator.
In Vietnam, Y Yich, pastor of the Degar Protestant Church, was imprisoned in 2013 for his Christian faith. After serving 12 years, he was set free mid-May 2025 when U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wisconsin advocated for his release through the Defending Freedoms Project, part of the Tom Lantos 2012 Human Rights Commission formed in conjunction with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and Amnesty International USA. In this case, Grothman served as Y Yich’s “angel,” and the consistent organized efforts were successful.
In the Matthean Gospel account, Peter recognizes Jesus as the Christ — the anointed one — the son of the living God. This title has nothing to do with Christ as the second person of the Trinity. An Old Testament term “son of God” refers to someone who has a special relationship with the deity. Solomon, angels, pious men and the kings of Israel are all referred to as “sons of God.” In the Gospel account, Peter acknowledges Jesus as the anointed one, sharing in a special relationship with God. A Christological and Trinitarian understanding of Christ develops later in the Christian tradition.
Following the Jesus-Peter conversation, often referred to as Peter’s Confession, Christ tasks Peter with establishing the church. Catholicism understands Peter to be the first pope. In April 2025, the college of cardinals elected Leo XIV as pope and successor to Peter. Already Pope Leo has spoken out about his concern for the persecution of Christians, especially in the Middle East.
Today’s readings and world events call us to become Christians of conscience and to act accordingly. After all, we are part of a church entrusted with a global mission of justice, and we must participate in that mission on behalf of all people, whose suffering cannot go unaddressed.
Reading I
(Acts 12: 1-11)
In those days, King Herod laid hands upon
some members of the Church to harm them.
He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword,
and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews
he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
–It was the feast of Unleavened Bread.–
He had him taken into custody and put in prison
under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each.
He intended to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter thus was being kept in prison,
but prayer by the Church was fervently being made
to God on his behalf.
On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial,
Peter, secured by double chains,
was sleeping between two soldiers,
while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison.
Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him
and a light shone in the cell.
He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying,
“Get up quickly.”
The chains fell from his wrists.
The angel said to him, “Put on your belt and your sandals.”
He did so.
Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.”
So he followed him out,
not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real;
he thought he was seeing a vision.
They passed the first guard, then the second,
and came to the iron gate leading out to the city,
which opened for them by itself.
They emerged and made their way down an alley,
and suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter recovered his senses and said,
“Now I know for certain
that the Lord sent his angel
and rescued me from the hand of Herod
and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting.”
Responsorial Psalm
(Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9)
Reading II
(2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18)
I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance.
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.
And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat
and will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Gospel
(Matthew 16:13-19)
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”