Accountability and Support
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.”
–James 5:16
Monthly Focus on Resisting Relationship with Christ
When was I most aware of my resistance to Christ’s presence in my life during the past 30 days? Why?
Discussion Questions for June 29th, 2025 Solemnity of Most Holy Saints Peter and Paul (C)
First Reading
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.”
First Reading Discussion Questions
F1. In Peter’s rescue from prison, how important was “prayer by the Church was fervently being made to God on his behalf”? What is Luke telling us about praying for each other?
F2. Do you think the whole Church was praying for the intercession of the Holy Spirit in the selection of the new pope?
Second Reading
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.
Second Reading Discussion Questions
S1. “The Lord stood by me and gave me strength.” Is Paul telling us that the Lord is our constant companion, giving us what we need? Does that bring with it a certain peace?
S2. Paul said he was “being poured out like a libation.” Peter had to escape from prison. Did God give them some hard tasks? Was God with them the whole time? Do you think he was with Pope Francis? Will he be with Pope Leo XIV?
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.”
Gospel Discussion Questions
G1. “You are Peter and upon this rock I shall build my church.” Do you think Pope Leo XIV will be listening for revelations from the Father, As Peter did when he said Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God?
G2. Jesus asked Peter “Who am I for you?” He asks each of us the same question. Is Jesus a figure from the past or is he is alive today?
Today in the Gospel (cf. Mt 16, 13-20), Jesus asks the disciples a good question: “Who do people say that the Son of man is?” (v. 13).
… Many see him as a great teacher, as a special person: good, righteous, consistent, courageous. … But is this enough to understand who he is, and above all, is it enough for Jesus? It seems not. If he were simply a person from the past—just as the figures cited in the same Gospel, John the Baptist, Moses, Elijah and the great prophets were for the people—he would merely be a good memory of a bygone time. And for Jesus, this will not do. Therefore, immediately afterwards, the Lord asks the disciples the decisive question: “But who do you—you!—say that I am?” (v. 15). Who am I for you, now? Jesus does not want to be a key figure from the past; He wants to be an important person for you today, of my today; not a distant prophet: Jesus wants to be the God who is close to us!
Christ, brothers and sisters, is not a memory of the past, but the God of the present. … Jesus is alive: let us remember this. Jesus is alive, Jesus lives in the Church, he lives in the world, Jesus accompanies us, Jesus is by our side, He offers us his Word, he offers us his grace, which enlighten and refresh us on the journey. He, an expert and wise guide, is happy to accompany us on the most difficult paths and the steepest slopes.
Who do people say that I am?
Pope Francis, Aug. 27, 2023
**From Anne Osdiek & USCCB
Suggested Strategies for Managing the Clock
For those with smaller groups or those who have the luxury of enough allotted time, it is suggested that the group cover each question from the monthly focus through the Gospel discussion questions.
For those with larger groups or don't have the luxury of operating on God's Time, it is suggested that the group cover the monthly focus question and then feel free to skip around and attempt to answer only a few questions - whether that’s just the Gospel, or the Second Reading and Gospel, etc.