Tag: Peter

Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. | Thursday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

From the Gospel acclamation: “Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (8:27-33, today’s readings)

He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

By their own profession of faith spoken by Peter, the disciples tell Jesus that he is Christ, the Son of Man. By asking them questions, Jesus hears their answers and takes their exchange a step further. He begins to teach them about his coming passion, death, and resurrection. Peter’s image of Christ the Messiah is discordant with the truth of Jesus’ mission, so he rebukes him. Jesus is perfectly obedient to the will of the Father, fulfilling his plan for our salvation. What Peter doesn’t understand, he makes clear to him even as he turns his gaze to the disciples. That God has a plan for us in Jesus, there is no doubt, as we hear him say in the first reading, “For in the image of God has man been made.”

God, help me see clearly where my plans end and yours begin. I pray to be free of unwieldy desires to control what I can’t control and instead to let you take that from me. In your image, I am made free in order to freely choose to do your will. As Saint John Paul II said, “Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.” Peter did not desire to see Jesus face his coming persecution and death, but he was powerless to impose his will on a plan Jesus freely chose to fulfill. Give me the grace, Lord, to recognize and name your divinity and think as you do but not as human beings do. Lead me, guide me, for the sake of your name.

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.

“We saw his star at its rising.” | The Epiphany of the Lord

From the responsorial psalm: “For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 2:1-12)

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”

The magi come to King Herod bringing news of the birth of the newborn king of the Jews. Excited at the star’s rising, they ask Herod where the infant can be found. But Herod, threatened by this news, calls together the scribes and pharisees to ask them where the newborn can be found. They determine through the prophet Micah that he will be born in Bethlehem, so Herod sends the magi to find him, pretending that he also wants to do him homage. Matthew tells us that “the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.” There they prostrate themselves, open their treasures, and offer their gifts. Warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they leave for their country by another way. At his birth, Jesus evokes two responses in people that he would face over and over throughout his earthly ministry: hatred and love, rejection and adoration.

God, as the magi did, help me throughout the day see the signs that point to your newborn Son. The excitement of the magi is clear; seeing the star at its rising draws them closer to the king of kings to prostrate themselves before him. Herod was greatly troubled and threatened by the loss of his authority and power. One birth, two responses. Herod closed his fist to grasp control and denied Jesus. The magi opened their treasures and offered gifts. When I seek to control or obtain power, give me the wisdom to put that desire aside. Help me understand, Lord, that in giving power and authority to you, I gain more than I ever could by my own fractured efforts. Lord, every nation on earth will adore 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.

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious

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.”

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

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah,” which is translated Christ. Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas,” which is translated Peter.

Two disciples of John the Baptist stand with him as he calls their attention to Jesus. “Behold, the Lamb of God,” John tells them, and they follow him. Obedient to John and his mission, the two disciples believe him, recognizing Jesus’ authority and identity as the Messiah. Andrew, after spending time with Jesus, goes to find his brother Simon Peter and brings him to Jesus. By naming him Cephas, Jesus claims him as a disciple and gives him a new identity as one of the Twelve, and the rock on which he will build his church. In pointing to Jesus as the Son of God, John fulfills his mission. “He must increase,” says John. “I must decrease.”

God, help me today do as Andrew did for his brother by bringing others to Jesus. Where he is throughout the day will not always be clear to me. Among family members, how do I go beyond the ordinariness of a day—of my ordinary state—and bring them into the presence of your Son? Just as Jesus named Simon Peter, help me recognize how he claims me for his own and invites me to stay with him today and every day. Give me the grace to recognize in the present moment where Jesus is and to hear him speak to my heart, asking, “What are you looking for?” 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.

Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist

From the responsorial psalm: “Light dawns for the just; and gladness, for the upright of heart. Be glad in the LORD, you just, and give thanks to his holy name. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 20:1a and 2-8)

When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.

John describes the events that take place at the discovery of the empty tomb following the resurrection of Jesus. Mary Magdalene first goes to the tomb and finds that the stone has been rolled away and then tells Peter, the first pope, and John, the disciple whom Jesus loved. Peter and John immediately run to the tomb, and John arrives first and out of respect for his authority of office waits for him to enter first. Going inside the tomb, Peter finds the burial cloths and the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head. John then enters and sees the burial cloths. In John’s own account, which he describes in third person writing about himself, he says, “he saw and believed.” As the first apostles, Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John run to seek out the risen Christ. The risen Christ, present in the Eucharist, is ours to run to today.

God, help me take in the words of Saint John from the first reading as it applies to the Gospel: “what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.” Fellowship with you and with Jesus is your gift and mine to receive. Give me the grace to do that through participation in the sacraments of the Church and through the intercession of Saint John and the Blessed Mother. Just as John accepted the invitation of Jesus from the cross to take Mary into his home, show me the way to do the same for the sake of your glory. Saint John, 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.

“But who do you say that I am?” | Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

From the responsorial psalm: “I love the LORD because he has heard my voice in supplication, because he has inclined his ear to me the day I called. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mk 8:27-35)

Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

Jesus places the question of his identity before the disciples as they head into Caesarea Philippi, a hub of pagan worship. With this in the backdrop, Jesus hears the response of people who fail to recognize him for who he is. Peter identifies him as the Christ, and Jesus warns them not to tell anyone about him. Hearing from Jesus many of the details of his coming passion, death, and resurrection, Peter rebukes Jesus but then himself is rebuked by the Son of God: “Get behind me, Satan.” Our ways are not God’s ways, and what is upside down is right side up. “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,” Jesus tells the crowd, “but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.” The means to this is by way of the cross, denying ourselves, and uniting our suffering to the life-giving passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

God, help me understand the mystery of suffering and place my hope in your mercy. The world might seem right side up but is upside down. Help me by turning my vision right side up, to see the world as you see it. Pope Benedict XVI said: “It is not by sidestepping or fleeing from suffering that we are healed, but rather by our capacity for accepting it, maturing through it and finding meaning through union with Christ, who suffered with infinite love. . . .” Lord of truth, love, and goodness, guide me!

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.

“Put out into deep water.” | Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

From the responsorial psalm: “The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 5:1-11)

After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”

Luke describes a scene that takes place by the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus is teaching a crowd. After borrowing Simon’s boat to speak to the crowds pressing in on him, he instructs Simon Peter to put out into the deep water and let down his nets for a catch. Simon is skeptical because he has caught nothing all night. But Peter obeys Jesus’ command, and they catch such a large number of fish that their nets begin to break. Recognizing Jesus’ divine authority, Peter falls at Jesus’ feet, expressing his unworthiness. At the end of the passage, Peter, James, and John leave everything behind to follow Jesus. He says to Simon Peter, the rock on which Jesus will build his Church, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When we hear Jesus instructing our hearts, to what depth are we willing to respond and do what he commands?

God, help me hear the voice of your Son today. By day’s end, I will have made hundreds of little decision or course corrections. Guide me, Lord, as I strive to understand and do your will and give me presence of mind to listen out for you throughout the day. In receiving the Eucharist, may I be fully aware of the person of Christ that dwells within me. Thank you for the opportunities you present to me today; for the sake of your glory, let me be unafraid to put out into the deep to realize your gifts.

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.

“Call of the Apostles” flickr photo by Lawrence OP https://flickr.com/photos/paullew/53476593527 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-ND) license

“You are the Holy One of God.” | Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

From the responsorial psalm: “When the just cry out, the LORD hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 6:60-69)

Many of Jesus’ disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.”

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life,” Jesus has just finished saying, “and I will raise him on the last day.” After saying this to a skeptical crowd in the synagogue in Capernaum, many of the followers of Jesus left him. Finishing what is known as the Bread of Life Discourse, and knowing there are some who do not believe him, Jesus says, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.” He asks the Twelve if there are any among them who want to leave. And Simon Peter answers: “You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” These are the words of one who would later deny Jesus but also the one to whom Jesus said: “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.” Peter exemplifies for us the journey from wavering, weakness, and division to faith, authority, and unity.

God, help me understand today’s Gospel. In it, Jesus says that no one can come to him unless it is granted by you, his Father. Strengthen my faith so that I come to the conviction, like Peter, that Jesus is the Holy One of God. “As for me and my household,” Joshua said, ” we will serve the LORD.” Just as Paul speaks of Christ and the Church through the example of man and wife becoming one flesh, help me participate fully in the life-giving mystery of union with you through the Bread of Life, through love made manifest in the Eucharist. In the truth of humility, help me see my dependence on you for everything. Guide me to your Son as I come to believe in him more fully. “Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.”

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 Dominic, priest

From the responsorial psalm: “A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. Create a clean heart in me, O God.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 16:13-23)

He 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.”

Peter responds to Jesus in a unique way by proclaiming his divine identity. Although the other disciples fail to make their belief explicit, only Peter expresses it to Jesus in this way. Jesus tells him he recognizes this because of divine revelation, not for anything human experience has taught him. Jesus then declares that Peter is the rock upon which he will build His Church. Today’s Gospel gives us Peter’s example of faith, being open to God’s revelations in our lives. In the words of Jesus, it also reveals the primacy of Peter and his successors, the popes, as the leaders of the Church. How easy it is to slip back into the shadows of half-truths sprung from human fears, as when Peter rebukes Jesus for revealing to the disciples the suffering he is about to experience. Jesus sharply reminds Peter, and all of us, not to be misled by fear, suffering, and the darkness of death: “Get behind me, Satan!” Jesus says to Peter, “You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

God, help me examine the two paths laid out in today’s Gospel and take to heart the conclusion the trustworthy expression “You are God and I am not.” Peter immediately rejected your divine plan that Jesus laid out in explicit detail. He would suffer greatly at the hands of others and be killed. The few words that follow are easy to miss: “and on the third day be raised.” As Jesus strengthened Peter’s faith by telling him “You are thinking not as God does,” strengthen my faith in trusting in your Son and in his triumph over sin and death. As Peter put it: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Lord, what can I do but try again and again to let go of my ways and all the anxieties associated with them? As Saint Dominic said: “Whatever troubles may be before you, accept them bravely, remembering Whom you are trying to follow. Do not be afraid.” Saint Dominic, 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.

“. . . and the last will be first.” | Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

From the Gospel acclamation: “Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mk 10:28-31)

Peter began to say to Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age.”

Picking up from where yesterday’s Gospel left off, today’s passage begins as Peter responds to Jesus’ teaching about selling material possessions, giving to the poor, and only then following him to enter the kingdom of God here and now, and to be a partaker of eternal life. Peter affirms that he has given up everything for the sake of the Gospel and for Jesus, who then reveals something of the reward awaiting him in heaven: “there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters . . . who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age.” In teaching that “many that are first will be last, and the last will be first,” Jesus encourages us to trust in God’s fidelity and promises and emphasizes the ultimate reward of eternal life in the age to come.

God, help me keep in mind Peter’s response to Jesus and to his encounter with the rich man: “We have given up everything and followed you,” Peter said. Having followed Jesus for the rest of his life, Peter trusted and hoped in the Lord. This is the same man who would later write these words of encouragement as our first pope: “Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

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.

“Receive the Holy Spirit.” | Pentecost Sunday

From the Gospel acclamation: “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 20:19-23)

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

The Gospel reading for Pentecost takes place just after the resurrection of Jesus. Earlier in John’s Gospel, Jesus first appears to Mary Magdalene and then to the disciples in the upper room. He wishes them peace, showing them his hands and his side so that they know it is him and not a ghost. The disciples rejoice when they see the Lord and Jesus says to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” While Luke describes the descent of the Holy Spirit as a strong driving wind and tongues of fire, John describes the quiet outpouring of the Holy Spirit as Jesus breathes on them. The result is the same: filled with the Holy Spirit, the disciples go out to proclaim the Gospel to every nation on earth.

Father in heaven, help me understand that the accounts of Pentecost are not frozen in time as musty historical accounts of the disciples who lived long ago but relate to me today in the reality of the risen Christ in the Eucharist and in the invisible presence of the Holy Spirit. Through the saving work of Jesus your Son, he sent the Advocate as he promised, infusing the disciples with the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit. The same spirit of Truth lives today in the Father, in the Son, and in the love between them, the Holy Spirit. “Come, Holy Spirit, come! / And from your celestial home / Shed a ray of light divine! / Come, Father of the poor! / Come, source of all our store! / Come, within our bosoms shine.”

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.