June 28, 2026
Evening: Vigil Mass for the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
Gospel: John 21:15-19

Today is the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. According to ancient ecclesiastical tradition, this evening we celebrate the Vigil Mass for the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. For pastoral reasons, we offer reflections on both these liturgical celebrations this year.

The Vigil Mass is celebrated either before or after Evening Prayer I of the feast. The Gospel is taken from the Holy Gospel according to John. In fact, we already proclaimed this Gospel on Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter. Yet, reading it today within the context of the Vigil for Saints Peter and Paul imparts a unique spiritual resonance.

In this evening’s Gospel, we witness the Risen Lord Jesus, after His Resurrection and before His Ascension, in His final dialogue with the Apostle Peter. Jesus asks him three times, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” (cf. Jn 21:15a, 16a, 17a). Three times Peter responds, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you” (cf. Jn 21:15b, 16b, 17b). This recalls to mind the profession of faith we made at our Baptism. On that day, before God and in the presence of the Church, we professed: We believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; we believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose again, and now lives in glory; we believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Yet, no sooner do we leave the sacred space of the church and return to secular life than we often cast aside this profession, failing to live according to the teachings of Jesus. The things of this world drive us to pursue its passing goods—money, power, and status—at any cost. In seeking these, we relegate our faith to a secondary place.

Today, the Church, in this Vigil Mass for the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, invites us to contemplate the Risen Lord’s final encounter with Peter. She invites us to reflect anew on the moment of our own encounter with Jesus Christ, to cherish that initial meeting, to re-experience His love for us, and to discern anew the unique vocation He has bestowed upon us. May we then fulfill this calling according to His holy will, living out the love of Christ for the world.

O God, who through the grace of adoption
chose us to be children of light,
grant, we pray,
that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error
but always be seen to stand in the bright light of truth.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica