Weekly Bulletin
Sunday, July 12, 2026
6th Sunday of Pentecost
THE HOLY APOSTLE PETER – Peter was the son of Jonah and the brother of Andrew, the First-called. He was of the Tribe of Simeon from the town of Bethsaida. He was a fisherman and, at first, was called Simon but the Lord was pleased to call him Cephas or Peter: “And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, He said, You are Simon the son of Jonah: you shall be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, a rock” (St. John 1:42). He was the first of the disciples to clearly express faith in the Lord Jesus saying: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (St. Matthew 16:16). His love for the Lord was great and his faith in the Lord gradually strengthened. When the Lord was brought to trial, Peter denied Him three times but after only one glance into the face of the Lord, Peter’s soul was filled with shame and repentance. After the descent of the Holy Spirit, Peter appears as a fearless and powerful preacher of the Gospel. Following one of his sermons in Jerusalem, three-thousand souls converted to the Faith. He preached the Gospel throughout Palestine and Asia Minor, throughout Illyria and Italy. Peter worked many powerful miracles; he healed the sick, resurrected the dead; the sick were healed even from his shadow. He had a great struggle with Simon the Magician who proclaimed himself as god but in reality Simon was a servant of Satan. Finally, Peter shamed and defeated him. By order of the evil Emperor Nero, Simon’s friend, Peter was condemned to death. Installing Linus as Bishop of Rome, counseling and comforting the flock of Christ, Peter proceeded joyfully to his death. Seeing the cross before him, he begged his executioners to crucify him upside down for he considered himself unworthy to die as did his Lord. Thus the great servant of the Great Lord reposed and received the wreath of eternal glory.
THE APOSTLE PAUL – Paul was born in Tarsus of the tribe of Benjamin. At first, he was called Saul, studied under Gamaliel, was a Pharisee and a persecutor of Christianity. He was miraculously converted to the Christian Faith by the Lord Himself Who appeared to him on the road to Damascus. He was baptized by the Apostle Ananias, was called Paul and numbered in the service of the great apostles. With a fiery zeal, Paul preached the Gospel everywhere from the borders of Arabia to Spain, among the Jews and among the Gentiles. He received the title “Apostle to the Gentiles.” As horrible as his sufferings were, so much more was his super human patience. Throughout all the years of his preaching Paul, from day to day, hung as one on a weak thread between life and death. Since he fulfilled all days and nights with labor and suffering for Christ, since he organized the Church in many places and since he attained such a degree of perfection he was able to say: “It is now no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Paul was beheaded in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero at the same time as the Apostle Peter.
THE READING FROM THE EPISTLE OF THE HOLY APOSTLE PAUL TO THE ROMANS (12: 6-14)
Brethren, having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Epistle Commentary
Ministry requires functioning together, fitting into the corporate whole of the Church. Each person has a “measure of faith” and divine gifting. St. Paul gives examples of gifts here but of course there are many more. These timeless exhortations to practice specific virtues are reminders to the Romans, and us, that true Christian faith is a faith that works!
THE GOSPEL READING FROM SAINT MATTHEW (9: 1-8)
At that time, Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” – then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” And he arose and departed to his house. Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.
For Saints Peter and Paul, Matthew 16: 13-19
At that time, when Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
ЧИТАЊЕ ИЗ ПОСЛАНИЦЕ РИМЉАНИМА СВ. АП. ПАВЛА (12: 6-14)
Браћо! А имамо различите дарове по благодати која нам је дана: ако пророштво, нека буде по мери вере; Ако ли службу, нека служи; ако је учитељ, нека учи; Ако је тешитељ, нека теши; који даје нека даје просто; који управља нека се брине; који чини милост нека чини с добром вољом. Љубав да не буде лажна. Мрзећи на зло држите се добра. Братском љубави будите један к другом љубазни. Чашћу један другог већег чините. Не будите у послу лени; будите огњени у духу, служите Господу. Надањем веселите се, у невољи трпите, у молитви будите једнако. Делите потребе са светима; примајте радо путнике. Благосиљајте оне који вас гоне: благосиљајте, а не куните.
ЧИТАЊЕ СВЕТОГ ЈЕВАНЂЕЉА ПО МАТЕЈУ (9: 1-8)
У време оно Исус ушавши у лађу пређе и дође у свој град. И гле, донесоше Му узета који лежаше на одру. И видевши Исус веру њихову рече узетом: Не бој се, синко, опраштају ти се греси твоји. И гле, неки од књижевника рекоше у себи: Овај хули на Бога. И видећи Исус помисли њихове рече: Зашто зло мислите у срцима својим? Јер шта је лакше рећи: Опраштају ти се греси; или рећи: Устани и ходи? Али да знате да власт има Син човечији на земљи опраштати грехе (тада рече узетом): Устани, узми одар свој и иди дома. И уставши отиде дома. А људи видећи чудише се, и хвалише Бога, који је дао власт такву људима. И одлазећи Исус оданде виде човека где седи на царини, по имену Матеја, и рече му: Хајде за мном. И уставши отиде за Њим.
Друго читање за Петровдан по Матеју 16: 13-19
У време оно, кад дође Исус у околине Ћесарије Филипове, питаше ученике своје говорећи: Ко говоре људи да је Син човечији? А они рекоше: Једни говоре да си Јован крститељ, други да си Илија, а други Јеремија, или који од пророка. Рече им Исус: А ви шта мислите ко сам ја? А Симон Петар одговори и рече: Ти си Христос, Син Бога Живога. И одговарајући Исус рече му: Благо теби, Симоне сине Јонин! Јер тело и крв нису то теби јавили, него Отац мој који је на небесима. А и ја теби кажем: ти си Петар, и на овом камену сазидаћу цркву своју, и врата паклена неће је надвладати. И даћу ти кључеве од царства небеског: и шта свежеш на земљи биће свезано на небесима, и шта разрешиш на земљи биће разрешено на небесима.
ПЕТРОВДАН – ПРАЗНИК ВЕРЕ, СЛУЖЕЊА И НАДЕ
Петровдан, који Српска православна црква прославља 12. јула, посвећен је светим апостолима Петру и Павлу, двојици највећих проповедника хришћанске вере. Њихов живот сведочи да Бог позива људе различитих дарова и животних путева да буду Његови проповедници и свештенослужитељи.
Свети апостол Петар био је једноставан рибар, али је својом вером, покајањем и љубављу према Христу постао један од стубова Цркве. Свети апостол Павле, некадашњи прогонитељ хришћана, доживео је дубоко обраћење и свој живот посветио ширењу Јеванђеља. Њихове различите животне приче показују да Божија милост преображава човека и да нико није далеко од Његовог позива.
Петровдан долази након Петровског поста и подсећа нас да су вера, молитва и духовни труд пут ка истинској радости. Овај празник нас позива да будемо истрајни у добру, храбри у сведочењу истине и спремни да својим животом ширимо љубав, мир и наду.
Прослављајући Петровдан, сећамо се не само великих апостола, већ се подсећамо да је и сваки хришћанин позван да својим речима и делима сведочи Христову љубав. Нека нас пример светих апостола Петра и Павла охрабри да останемо чврсти у вери, верни Богу и отворени за потребе ближњих.