June 29, 2022
Matthew 16:15-29 - [Jesus] said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (RSV - Gospel for June 29th)

Who is Jesus to you? -  Peter did not say “you are a Christ” or “a son of God” but “the Christ, the Son of God.” For there are many christs by grace, who have attained the rank of adoption [as sons], but [there is] only one who is by nature the Son of God. Thus, using the definite article, he said, the Christ, the Son of God. And in calling him Son of the living God, Peter indicates that Christ himself is life and that death has no authority over Him. And even if the flesh, for a short while, was weak and died, nevertheless it rose again, since the Word, who indwelled it, could not be held under the bonds of death. (St. Cyril of Alexandria)

Scripture Readings:

• Vespers: 1 Peter 1:3-9, 1 Peter 1:13-19, 1 Peter 2:11-24
• Matins: John 21:15-25
• Divine Liturgy: 2 Corinthians 11:21-12:9, Matthew 16:13-19

The icon is of the Holy Apostles Peter & Paul, whose feast we celebrate on June 29th.