Tag: Peter

“And we know that his testimony is true.” | Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter

From the responsorial psalm: “The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven. His eyes behold, his searching glance is on mankind. The just will gaze on your face, O Lord.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 21:20-25)

Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me.”

Today’s Gospel begins where yesterday’s left off, after Jesus says to Peter, “Follow me.” Peter’s question, “Lord, what about him?” concerns John, who follows close behind them. Jesus’ response to Peter tells us that he knows what will happen to each of the disciples because they follow him; more than that, he suggests that each disciple has a unique role as individual persons in spreading the Gospel. “What concern is it of yours?” Jesus asks, as if to say, “Don’t have any concern at all about the way that I call others to serve me. “You, Peter, follow me.” John himself as a witness confirms the conversation that had taken place between Jesus and Peter. “It is this disciple who testifies to these things
and has written them,” he says, “and we know that his testimony is true.” As with Peter and John, in what personal way does Jesus invite you to follow him?

Father in heaven, in his searching for answers, Peter seems to look for something more from Jesus, questioning him. Today’s Gospel acclamation reminds me that constant guidance is available from the Holy Spirit. “I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord; he will guide you to all truth.” John testifies to the many things that Jesus did. Paul, in prison, received all who came to him and “without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” Give me the gift of fortitude, Lord, to be strong in my faith and witness to you for the sake of your glory. The just will gaze on your face, O Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” | Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter

From the responsorial psalm: “Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 21:15-19)

Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

After his resurrection, Jesus meets the disciples by the sea and asks Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Peter responds, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Two more times he asks Peter the same question until the third time Peter becomes distressed. “Lord, you know everything,” Peter says, “you know that I love you.” For each response from Peter, Jesus says, “Feed my lambs,” “Tend my sheep,” and “Feed my sheep.” By doing this, he asks Peter to lead the Church, to care for those Jesus himself guarded and protected. Although Peter may not have understood what Jesus meant, he told him that he would “stretch out his hands” as he is crucified as a martyr, glorifying God by laying down his life for the Gospel. As disciples facing rejection, persecution, and martyrdom, how far are we willing to go to glorify God?

Father in heaven, guide me with your hand today as I freely choose to serve you and do your will. Describing the ultimate price Peter would pay as he led the Church for the sake of the Gospel, Jesus says to Peter, “Follow me.” This is not an invitation I would readily accept. Yet, Peter’s threefold confirmation of his love for Christ reveals the depth of his faith and trust in him, even in the face of suffering and death. Lord, give me the grace needed, when the time comes, to trust you completely. Let me be attentive to what Jesus told the disciples: “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Help me today hear and take up the invitation of Christ to follow him.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Holy Thursday

From the responsorial psalm: “How shall I make a return to the LORD for all the good he has done for me? The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the LORD. Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 13:1-15)

So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

Before the feast of Passover in the Upper Room, Jesus begins to wash his disciples’ feet. As he comes to Simon Peter, he asks what Jesus is doing and says to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus then replies, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Peter says, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” At first failing to understand why Jesus would want to wash his feet, Peter accepts wholeheartedly what Jesus offers to do. The lowly, menial task of washing feet is an example to the disciples of humility and selflessness. In this example of sacrificial love and service, Peter accepts what Jesus does for the sake of his own salvation. “What I am doing,” Jesus tells Peter, “you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter, the first servant of the servants, would come to understand service and sacrificial love as our first pope.

God, help me understand what greatness is—not conventional greatness, not greatness as the world sees it, but greatness in going all out to be the least important person in the room. “Human greatness has always had sadness for a companion,” said exorcist Fr. Gabriele Amorth. Jesus assured Peter that only his feet need be cleaned to receive the self-gift of Jesus’ humility. In seeking human greatness, I’ve demonstrated time after time that I stumble and fall. Raise me up to true greatness, Lord, in learning the virtue of humility and loving service to others. “I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: love one another as I have loved you.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Wednesday of Holy Week

From the responsorial psalm: “I will praise the name of God in song, and I will glorify him with thanksgiving: “See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive! For the LORD hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.” Lord, in your great love, answer me.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 26:14-25)

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”

Jesus tells the disciples “My appointed time draws near,” and he celebrates the Passover with them. While they were eating, Jesus tells them that one of them will betray him. One by one the disciples deny that they will betray Jesus. “Surely it is not I, Lord?” When Jesus makes clear the consequences of failing to seek his mercy, as Peter did following his denial of Jesus, Judas also questions Jesus—”Surely it is not I, Rabbi?”—and later betrays him in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas is not alone in his betrayal. In their weakness, each of the disciples also betrayed Jesus; only John remained with him at the foot of the cross. After the resurrection, all but Judas returned to Jesus to receive his mercy.

God, help me call to mind your presence today, that you are eternally present to me whether I am conscious of it at any given moment. In the decisions I face today, give me the grace to remain faithful to you and not weaken by turning away from your will and choosing to do wrong. “Surely it is not I, Lord?” Let that question be top of mind today as I face its opportunities and trials. “The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Tuesday of Holy Week

From the responsorial psalm: “In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice rescue me, and deliver me; incline your ear to me, and save me. I will sing of your salvation.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 13:21-33, 36-38)

Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

Jesus tells the disciples that one of them will betray him. Peter asks Jesus which of them is the betrayer. In dipping the morsel, Judas gives the sign that he will betray Jesus. He tells him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” And Judas departs. But Judas is not the only one who betrays Jesus. Peter, the one who says he would lay down his life for Jesus, later denies him three times in the courtyard. Peter’s overconfident devotion to Jesus reveals human weakness. When Jesus questions Peter—”Will you lay down your life for me?”—it is not to shame him but to direct his total dependence on God to strengthen and sustain him. In later repenting, Peter affirms this dependence.

God, help me realize the extent of your mercy, not to presume it but to recognize sin for what it is and know the grace of reconciliation with you. Judas moves off stage in the Gospel, passing from light to darkness. Peter leans against Jesus’ chest in devotion to him. Yet, both fail through human weakness to remain loyal to Jesus. Help me see in Peter a model of contrition and dependence on you for the forgiveness of sins. I am in a helpless place, Lord, if I trust only my good will to see me through the day. Let me know your mercy and be merciful to others. “In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“Upon this rock I will build my Church” | Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 16:13-19)

[Jesus] said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.”

Jesus questions the disciples about his identity, as if to gather a consensus of the people. Some of the disciples tell Jesus that people believe he is John the Baptist or Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Peter speaks up, taking no notice of the people’s opinion. “You are the Christ,” he says, “the Son of the living God.” Knowledge revealed to him by God, Peter’s profession of faith expressed to Jesus and the other disciples what he knew interiorly. In that moment, papal authority and its succession was born. As Peter acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah, he receives from Jesus the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. The source of that authority comes not from flesh and blood but from God the Father.

Father in heaven, you revealed to Peter supernatural insight to recognize the divine identity of Jesus your Son. Despite Peter’s human limitations, he received through revelation the Savior and Redeemer. While I use the gifts of reason and knowledge to recognize you as the living God, grant me the grace to trust that you reveal knowledge also through docility toward the Holy Spirit. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of faith, supernatural sight, that glimpses the beatific vision! It sees in the Eucharist what is invisible but real and incorporates into one’s being the Son of the Living God.

From the verse before the Gospel: “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church; the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” Saint Peter, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“For this purpose have I come.”| Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mk 1:29-39)

The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Jesus never stops healing and preaching to fulfill his mission, moving in an ever-widening circle. Starting with Peter’s mother-in-law, Jesus heals her of her fever. As the whole town gathers at the door in the evening, he then goes on to drive out demons and cure the sick. Rising well before dawn the next day, Jesus goes off to a deserted place to pray until Peter finds him, saying, “Everyone is looking for you.” Jesus responds by picking up and going “throughout the whole of Galilee.” The servant of servants, he tells Peter, the rock on which he builds his Church: “For this purpose have I come.” Love starts at home and spirals ever outward through God’s grace. As Saint Teresa of Calcutta said: “Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the action that we do. It is to God Almighty—how much we do it does not matter, because He is infinite, but how much love we put in that action. How much we do to Him in the person that we are serving.”

God, just as Jesus grasped Peter’s mother-in-law by the hand and moments later she waited on her family, grasp me by the hand today to make clear your will. Samuel learns to respond to your repeated calls, finally saying, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” In hearing and responding to you, I move from contemplation to action. In describing the infinite love you give to your people, Saint Teresa repeats twice the phrase “how much love we put in the action.” It’s in that willingness to show extravagant love to those you put in our way that we grasp the love of the Almighty and to serve your Son in serving others. “For this purpose have I come,” Jesus tells Peter. Lord, as you did for Peter’s mother-in-law, do for me today: approach me, grasp my hand, help me up.

From the responsorial psalm: “Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not; then said I, ‘Behold I come.’ Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“You will see greater things than this.” | Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 1:43-51)

Nathanael said to [Jesus], “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”

Phillip invites his fellow townsman Nathanael to meet Jesus, but Nathanael initially voices skepticism, questioning Jesus’ divine identity. He is “son of Joseph, from Nazareth,” Philip tells Nathanael. Jesus responds to Nathanael’s skepticism with a display of divine knowledge, revealing that he was aware of Nathanael’s presence under a fig tree, to which Nathanael confesses Jesus as the Son of God and the King of Israel. “You will see greater things than this,” Jesus tells Nathanael. “You will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Aware of the innermost intentions of his disciples, and of all people, Jesus calls each of us by name to follow him and remain with him.

God, I look to you with hope in your mercy that you judge me not by external appearances—as I tend to judge others—but by who I am. You know me more intimately than I know myself. Help me recognize in Nathanael’s first encounter with Jesus that you also know me by name, you call me to follow you, and that faith is necessary to know you and move beyond appearances. What are the tasks you hand to me today? Whatever they are, make clear to me your will; give me the grace to me be a means of your justice and mercy. As Saint John says in the first reading: “Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.”

From the first reading: “Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth and reassure our hearts before him in whatever our hearts condemn, for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God.” Saint John Neumann, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 1:35-42)

John was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day.

John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God, and the two disciples immediately follow him. There is no question in the minds of the disciples who Jesus is. They call him teacher. Jesus asks them what they are looking for, and they ask him where he is staying. Speaking in such a way might seem vague or tangential, but the questions they ask relate to the identification of Jesus as the Messiah. In the first reading, John tells us “No one who is begotten by God commits sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot sin because he is begotten by God.” By following Jesus, the disciples go with him to see where he is staying. By staying with Jesus, they remain in God and God’s seed remains in them. Andrew, one of the two disciples, tells his brother Simon Peter they have found the Messiah. Jesus knows him by name and calls him Cephas, the rock on which the Church will be built.

God, in following the example of the first disciples, I find a way for you to remain in me. “Where are you staying?” the disciples ask Jesus. In asking where he was staying, Jesus hears their yearning and persistence in seeking him. “Come, and you will see.” That invitation leads them to see where your Son lives, that his dwelling place is with you and that he invites all of us to remain with you, on earth in the mystical body of Christ and eternally in our heavenly home. Help me today to hear the same call and be able to respond, saying, “We have found the Messiah.” As Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton said, “Live always in me and let me live perpetually in you and for you, as I live only by you.”

From the responsorial psalm: “Let the sea and what fills it resound, the world and those who dwell in it; Let the rivers clap their hands, the mountains shout with them for joy before the LORD. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.” Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 16:21-27)

Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

Jesus calls Peter Satan only a short time after he tells him “you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.” Peter, who recognizes Jesus as the Messiah, rebukes Jesus for hearing and doing the will of the Father; namely, to undergo his passion, death, and resurrection for the salvation of the world. In today’s Gospel, Jesus goes on to tell Peter: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” There is no other way to eternal life except in the mystical body of Christ—through Him, with Him, and in Him.

Father in heaven, help me recognize my cross and pick it up. Give me the opportunity to be aware of you today in the people you place before me, through prayer, and in receiving the Eucharist. Rather than turn away from my cross, give me the grace to make it a means of participating in the redemptive suffering of your Son. In the mystery of this participation, instill in my heart with your love the hope of the resurrection and eternal life in the world to come.

From the second reading: “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.