Daily Readings - 29/06/2026

^12:1 It was about this time that King Herod started persecuting certain members of the Church.

^12:2 He beheaded James the brother of John,

^12:3 and when he saw that this pleased the Jews he decided to arrest Peter as well.

^12:4 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.

^12:5 All the time Peter was under guard the Church prayed to God for him unremittingly.

^12:6 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.

^12:7 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.

^12:8 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’.

^12:9 Peter followed him, but had no idea that what the angel did was all happening in reality; he thought he was seeing a vision.

^12:10 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.

^12:11 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.’

^34:1 I will bless Yahweh at all times, his praise shall be on my lips continually;

^34:2 my soul glories in Yahweh, let the humble hear and rejoice.

^34:3 Proclaim with me the greatness of Yahweh, together let us extol his name.

^34:4 I seek Yahweh, and he answers me and frees me from all my fears.

^34:5 Every face turned to him grows brighter and is never ashamed.

^34:6 A cry goes up from the poor man, and Yahweh hears, and helps him in all his troubles.

^34:7 The angel of Yahweh pitches camp round those who fear him; and he keeps them safe.

^34:8 How good Yahweh is – only taste and see! Happy the man who takes shelter in him.

^34:9 Fear Yahweh, you his holy ones: those who fear him want for nothing.

^34:10 The young lion may go empty and hungry, but those who seek Yahweh lack nothing good.

^34:11 Come, my sons, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.

^34:12 Which of you wants to live to the full, who loves long life and enjoyment of prosperity?

^34:13 Malice must be banished from your tongue, deceitful conversation from your lips;

^34:14 never yield to evil, practise good, seek peace, pursue it.

^34:16 The face of Yahweh frowns on evil men, to wipe their memory from the earth;

^34:15 the eyes of Yahweh are turned towards the virtuous, his ears to their cry.

^34:17 They cry for help and Yahweh hears and rescues them from all their troubles;

^34:18 Yahweh is near to the broken-hearted, he helps those whose spirit is crushed.

^34:19 Hardships in plenty beset the virtuous man, but Yahweh rescues him from them all;

^34:20 taking care of every bone, Yahweh will not let one be broken.

^34:21 Evil will bring death to the wicked, those who hate the virtuous will have to pay;

^34:22 while Yahweh himself ransoms the souls of his servants, and those who take shelter in him have nothing to pay.

^16:13 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?’

^16:14 And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets’.

^16:15 ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’

^16:16 Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said ‘the Son of the living God’.

^16:17 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.

^16:18 So I now say to you: You are Peter[*b] and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld[*c] can never hold out against it.

^16:19 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.'[*d]