The Catholic Defender: St. Peter reached out saying, "Help Me Rhonda"!
As it was during the days of Unleavened Bread that he had arrested him, he put him in prison, assigning four sections of four soldiers each to guard him, meaning to try him in public after the Passover.
All the time Peter was under guard the church prayed to God for him unremittingly.
On the night before Herod was to try him, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with two chains, while guards kept watch at the main entrance to the prison.
Then suddenly an 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.
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.'
He followed him out, but had no idea that what the angel did was all happening in reality; he thought he was seeing a vision.
They passed through the first guard post and then the second 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.
It was only then that Peter came to himself. And he said, 'Now I know it is all true.
The Lord really did send his angel and save me from Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.'
As soon as he realized this he went straight to the house of Mary the mother of John Mark, where a number of people had assembled and were praying.
He knocked at the outside door and a servant called Rhoda came to answer it.
She recognized Peter's voice and was so overcome with joy that, instead of opening the door, she ran inside with the news that Peter was standing at the main entrance.
They said to her, 'You are out of your mind,' but she insisted that it was true. Then they said, 'It must be his angel!'
Peter, meanwhile, was still knocking. When they opened the door, they were amazed to see that it really was Peter himself.
He raised his hand for silence and described to them how the Lord had led him out of prison. He added, 'Tell James and the brothers.' Then he left and went elsewhere.
When daylight came there was a great commotion among the soldiers, who could not imagine what had become of Peter.
Herod put out an unsuccessful search for him; he had the guards questioned, and before leaving Judea to take up residence in Caesarea he gave orders for their execution.
The above story coming from Acts 12:11-12 is very interesting. First, St. Peter was in Prison heavily guarded by King Herod. Under normal circumstances it would have taken an army to free him.
Angels came and rescued St. Peter, that is very interesting. Hebrews 13: 2 tells us, "Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels." Angels can appear like a human being like in the case of the Angel Raphael did with Tobit in the Old Testament (Tobit 12:11-15).
“I shall now tell you the whole truth and conceal nothing at all from you. I have already said to you, ‘A king’s secret should be kept secret, but one must declare the works of God with due honor.’ Now when you, Tobit, and Sarah prayed, it was I who presented the record of your prayer before the Glory of the Lord; and likewise whenever you used to bury the dead. When you did not hesitate to get up and leave your dinner in order to go and bury that dead man, was sent to put you to the test. At the same time, however, God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah. I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand and serve before the Glory of the Lord.”
I can't help associate Raphael standing at the throne of God with all the Saints (Revelation 5:8, 8:3-4) presenting our prayers along with the incense benefiting the human race.
I also remember the angels that visited Lot, Abraham's Nephew, Genesis 19:1-5 states, "The two angels reached Sodom in the evening, as Lot was sitting at the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he got up to greet them; and bowing down with his face to the ground, he said, “Please, my lords,* come aside into your servant’s house for the night, and bathe your feet; you can get up early to continue your journey.” But they replied, “No, we will pass the night in the town square.” He urged them so strongly, however, that they turned aside to his place and entered his house. He prepared a banquet for them, baking unleavened bread, and they dined. Before they went to bed, the townsmen of Sodom, both young and old—all the people to the last man—surrounded the house. They called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to your house tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have sexual relations with them.”
Just from a quick glance at some of what angels have done in the past, St. Peter's situation is especially unique. This was a rescue mission for a divine purpose like no other. The angel escorts St. Peter until he was well away from the guards and the prison.
He goes to St. Mark's Mom's house knocking on the door when Rhonda hears St. Peter's voice and totally forgets to open the door for him. She leaves him standing at the front door as she went to those in prayer informing them Peter was there!
St. Peter attempted to be patient as the debate ensued that St. Peter was in fact at the front door! An Angel freed the man they had been praying for! The Lord has great plans for St. Peter ultimately taking him to Rome. Of all of St. Peter's travels and stays along his many journeys, I'm sure that he would never forget this fish called Rhonda!
These are certainly two different Rhonda's, but I just can't help seeing St. Peter out at the door asking "Help me Rhonda, help help me Rhonda, help me Ronda ya, please open that door bow bow bow!
