Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest
Lectionary: 410
Lectionary: 410
The whole congregation of the children of Israel
arrived in the desert of Zin in the first month,
and the people settled at Kadesh.
It was here that Miriam died, and here that she was buried.
As the community had no water,
they held a council against Moses and Aaron.
The people contended with Moses, exclaiming,
"Would that we too had perished with our kinsmen in the LORD's presence!
Why have you brought the LORD's assembly into this desert
where we and our livestock are dying?
Why did you lead us out of Egypt,
only to bring us to this wretched place
which has neither grain nor figs nor vines nor pomegranates?
Here there is not even water to drink!"
But Moses and Aaron went away from the assembly
to the entrance of the meeting tent, where they fell prostrate.
Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them,
and the LORD said to Moses,
"Take your staff and assemble the community,
you and your brother Aaron,
and in their presence order the rock to yield its waters.
From the rock you shall bring forth water for the congregation
and their livestock to drink."
So Moses took his staff from its place before the LORD, as he was ordered.
He and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock,
where he said to them, "Listen to me, you rebels!
Are we to bring water for you out of this rock?"
Then, raising his hand, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff,
and water gushed out in abundance for the people
and their livestock to drink.
But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
"Because you were not faithful to me
in showing forth my sanctity before the children of Israel,
you shall not lead this community into the land I will give them."
These are the waters of Meribah,
where the children of Israel contended against the LORD,
and where the LORD revealed his sanctity among them.
arrived in the desert of Zin in the first month,
and the people settled at Kadesh.
It was here that Miriam died, and here that she was buried.
As the community had no water,
they held a council against Moses and Aaron.
The people contended with Moses, exclaiming,
"Would that we too had perished with our kinsmen in the LORD's presence!
Why have you brought the LORD's assembly into this desert
where we and our livestock are dying?
Why did you lead us out of Egypt,
only to bring us to this wretched place
which has neither grain nor figs nor vines nor pomegranates?
Here there is not even water to drink!"
But Moses and Aaron went away from the assembly
to the entrance of the meeting tent, where they fell prostrate.
Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them,
and the LORD said to Moses,
"Take your staff and assemble the community,
you and your brother Aaron,
and in their presence order the rock to yield its waters.
From the rock you shall bring forth water for the congregation
and their livestock to drink."
So Moses took his staff from its place before the LORD, as he was ordered.
He and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock,
where he said to them, "Listen to me, you rebels!
Are we to bring water for you out of this rock?"
Then, raising his hand, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff,
and water gushed out in abundance for the people
and their livestock to drink.
But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
"Because you were not faithful to me
in showing forth my sanctity before the children of Israel,
you shall not lead this community into the land I will give them."
These are the waters of Meribah,
where the children of Israel contended against the LORD,
and where the LORD revealed his sanctity among them.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
R.(8) If
today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tested me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tested me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
AlleluiaMT 16:18
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT16:13-23
Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
and he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
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.
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.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Then he strictly ordered his disciples
to tell no one that he was the Christ.
From that time on, 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."
and he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
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.
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.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Then he strictly ordered his disciples
to tell no one that he was the Christ.
From that time on, 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."
For the readings of the Memorial of Saint Dominic, please go here.
Meditation: "You are
the Christ - the Son of the living God"
How
firm is your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? At an opportune time Jesus tested
his disciples with a crucial question: Who do men say that I am and who
do you say that I am? (Matthew 16:13). Jesus was widely recognized in
Israel as a mighty man of God, even being compared with the greatest of the
prophets, John the Baptist, Elijah, and Jeremiah. Peter, always quick to
respond, exclaimed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living
God.
Through
the gift of faith Peter recognized that Jesus was the "anointed one"
(in Hebrew and Greek the word is translated as Messiah and Christ),
and the only begotten Son of God sent by the Father in heaven to redeem a
fallen human race. No mortal being could have revealed this to Peter; but only
God. Jesus then conferred on Peter authority to govern the church that Jesus
would build, a church that no powers could overcome. Jesus played on Peter's
name which is the same word for "rock" in both Aramaic and Greek.
Spiritual
rock and living stones
To call someone a "rock" is one of the greatest of compliments. The ancient rabbis had a saying that when God saw Abraham, he exclaimed: "I have discovered a rock to found the world upon." Abraham put his trust in God and made God's word the foundation of his life and the bedrock of his faith. Through Abraham God established a nation for himself. Through faith Peter grasped who Jesus truly was. He was the first apostle to proclaim that Jesus was truly the Anointed One (Messiah and Christ) and the only begotten Son of God.
To call someone a "rock" is one of the greatest of compliments. The ancient rabbis had a saying that when God saw Abraham, he exclaimed: "I have discovered a rock to found the world upon." Abraham put his trust in God and made God's word the foundation of his life and the bedrock of his faith. Through Abraham God established a nation for himself. Through faith Peter grasped who Jesus truly was. He was the first apostle to proclaim that Jesus was truly the Anointed One (Messiah and Christ) and the only begotten Son of God.
The
New Testament describes the church, the people of God, as a spiritual house and
temple of the Holy Spirit with each member joined together as living
stones (see 1 Peter 2:5). Faith in Jesus Christ makes us into rocks - spiritual
stones. The Lord Jesus tests each of us personally with the same
question: Who do you say that I am?
"Lord
Jesus, I profess and believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the living
God. You are my Lord and my Savior who has set me free from sin and deception.
Make my faith strong like the Apostles Peter and Paul and give me boldness to
speak of you to others that they may come to know you as Lord and Savior."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: Only by hope, by Basil the
Great, 329-379 A.D.
"'Turn,
O my soul, into your rest: for the Lord has been bountiful to you' (Psalm
114:7). The brave contestant applies to himself the consoling words, very much
like to Paul, when he says: 'I have fought the good fight, I have finished the
course, I have kept the faith. For the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of
justice.' These things the prophet also says to himself: Since you have
fulfilled sufficiently the course of this life, turn then to your rest, 'for
the Lord has been bountiful to you.' For, eternal rest lies before those who
have struggled through the present life observant of the laws, a rest not given
in payment for a debt owed for their works but provided as a grace of the
munificent God for those who have hoped in him." (excerpt from HOMILIES
22)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, MATTHEW 16:13-23
(Numbers 20:1-13; Psalm 95)
(Numbers 20:1-13; Psalm 95)
KEY VERSE: "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven" (v. 19).
TO KNOW: Jesus took his disciples to the area of Caesarea Philippi in northern Israel near Banias, where there was the Cave of Pan (the Roman god Faunus, half-goat, half-man). There was also a temple built by Herod to honor the Emperor Augustus. In this political and pagan territory Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Peter confessed that Jesus was God's Son, the "Messiah" (the "anointed one"). Jesus declared Peter to be "blessed" for announcing this revelation from God. Jesus in turn affirmed Peter's identity and mission by calling him the "rock," the foundation of his Church. It was the rock of Peter's faith that enabled him to follow Jesus to his own death as a martyr. Because of Peter's new place among the Twelve, he was given the "keys" to God's kingdom with the power to "bind" and "loose," to allow or forbid according to God's law. The Pope is the apostolic successor of Peter, the supreme teaching authority of the Church. When the Pope speaks on matters of faith and morals it is said that he speaks "ex cathedra" (from the Chair of Peter) and this teaching is to be held by the universal Church. The powers of evil will not prevail over the Church.
TO LOVE: Do I respect the teaching authority of the Church?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to understand your presence in the Church.
"In essentials, unity, in doubtful matters, liberty, and in all things charity." (Pope John XXIII, attributed to St. Augustine)
Memorial of Saint Dominic, priest
Dominic was born to Spanish nobility of the house of Guzman. His mother was Blessed Joan of Aza who, when pregnant, had a vision that her unborn child was a dog who would set the world on fire. A dog bearing a torch in its mouth became a symbol for the Dominicans. Dominic founded the Order of Friars Preachers (Dominicans) in 1215, a group who lived a simple, austere life, and an order of nuns dedicated to the care of young girls. Legend says that when Dominic became discouraged at the progress of his mission, he received a vision from Our Lady who told him to say the rosary daily, and teach it to all who would listen. Dominic is often credited with the invention of the rosary, but it predates him. There is also a story that Dominic received a vision of a beggar who, like Dominic, would do great things for the Church. Dominic met the beggar the next day, embraced him and said, "You are my companion and must walk with me. If we hold together, no earthly power can withstand us." The beggar was Saint Francis of Assisi.
Thursday 8 August 2019
St Mary Of The Cross Mackillop
1 Kings 17:8-16. Colossians 3:12-17. Psalm 31(32):1-5, 7-8.
Matthew 6:25‑34.
Into your hands, O Lord, I entrust my spirit – Psalm 31(32):1-5,
7-8.
‘Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness.’
Mary MacKillop lived with radical faith and trust, inspiring
hope in entire generations of people. This dynamic woman found life in the call
of Jesus, devoting herself to the needs of others, especially the downtrodden,
poor and forgotten.
She never lost sight of the personal invitation at the heart of
today’s gospel, to strive first for the kingdom of God. She proclaimed it and
built it up with her Sisters of St Joseph bringing education and relief to the
poor. Mary and her companions would see a need, discern a response, and act
with love and trust in God. Her letters tell of her fidelity in trial and
challenge, joy and consolation. Her courage in the face of persecution is
legendary.
Let us look to Mary MacKillop and learn from her as a model of
faith, love and generosity. Like her, may we find our joy in God’s presence.
Saint Dominic
Saint of the Day for August 8
(August 8, 1170 – August 6, 1221)
 |
| Stained glass | St. Dominic sends out the Friars | photo by Lawrence, OP | flickr |
Saint Dominic’s Story
If he hadn’t taken a trip with his bishop, Dominic would
probably have remained within the structure of contemplative life; after the
trip, he spent the rest of his life being a contemplative in active apostolic
work.
Born in old Castile, Spain, Dominic was trained for the
priesthood by a priest-uncle, studied the arts and theology, and became a canon
of the cathedral at Osma, where there was an attempt to revive the apostolic
common life described in Acts of the Apostles.
On a journey through France with his bishop, Dominic came face
to face with the then virulent Albigensian heresy at Languedoc. The
Albigensians–or Cathari, “the pure ones”–held to two principles—one good, one
evil—in the world. All matter is evil—hence they denied the Incarnation and the
sacraments. On the same principle, they abstained from procreation and took a
minimum of food and drink. The inner circle led what some people regarded as a
heroic life of purity and asceticism not shared by ordinary followers.
Dominic sensed the need for the Church to combat this heresy,
and was commissioned to be part of the preaching crusade against it. He saw
immediately why the preaching crusade was not succeeding: the ordinary people
admired and followed the ascetical heroes of the Albigenses. Understandably,
they were not impressed by the Catholic preachers who traveled with horse and
retinues, stayed at the best inns and had servants. Dominic therefore, with
three Cistercians, began itinerant preaching according to the gospel ideal. He
continued this work for 10 years, being successful with the ordinary people but
not with the leaders.
His fellow preachers gradually became a community, and in 1215
Dominic founded a religious house at Toulouse, the beginning of the Order of
Preachers or Dominicans.
Dominic’s ideal, and that of his Order, was to organically link
a life with God, study, and prayer in all forms, with a ministry of salvation
to people by the word of God. His ideal: contemplata tradere: “to
pass on the fruits of contemplation” or “to speak only of God or with God.”
Reflection
The Dominican ideal, like that of all religious communities, is
for the imitation, not merely the admiration, of the rest of the Church. The
effective combining of contemplation and activity is the vocation of truck
driver Smith as well as theologian Aquinas. Acquired contemplation is the
tranquil abiding in the presence of God, and is an integral part of any full
human life. It must be the wellspring of all Christian activity.
Saint Dominic is the Patron Saint of:
Astronomers
Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
Lectio Divina: Matthew 16:13-23
Lectio Divina
Thursday, August 8, 2019
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Father of everlasting goodness,
our origin and guide,
be close to us
and hear the prayers of all who praise You.
Forgive our sins and restore us to life.
Keep us safe in Your love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
our origin and guide,
be close to us
and hear the prayers of all who praise You.
Forgive our sins and restore us to life.
Keep us safe in Your love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading
Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his
disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied,
"Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of
the prophets." 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. 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. I will
give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be
bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in
heaven." Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was
the Christ. From that time on, 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."
3) Reflection
• We are now in the narrative part between the discourse on the
Parables (Mt 13) and the discourse on the community (Mt 18). In these narrative
parts which link together the five discourses, Matthew usually follows the
sequence of the Gospel of Mark. Once in a while, he gives other information,
also known by Luke. Here and there, he quotes texts which appear only in the
Gospel of Matthew, like, for example, the conversation between Jesus and Peter
in today’s Gospel. This text has different interpretations and even
contradictory ones among the diverse Christian Churches.
• At that time, the communities fostered a very strong affective bond of union with the leaders who had given origin to the community. For example, the communities of Antioch in Syria fostered their relationship with Peter. Those of Greece promoted their relationship with Paul; some communities of Asia, with the Beloved Disciple and others with the person of John of the Apocalypse. Identification with these leaders to whom they owed their origin helped the communities to build better their identity and spirituality. But this could also be a reason for dispute, like in the case of the community of Corinth (1 Cor 1:11-12).
• Matthew 16:13-16: The opinions of the people and of the disciples concerning Jesus. Jesus asks the opinion of the people concerning Himself, the Son of Man. The responses are varied: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the Prophets. When Jesus asks the disciples’ opinion, Peter becomes the spokesman and says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” The response is not a new one. Previously, the disciples had said the same thing (Mt 14:33). In John’s Gospel, the same profession of faith is made by Martha (Jn 11:27). It means that the prophecies of the Old Testament are realized in Jesus.
• Matthew 16:17: Jesus’ response to Peter: "Blessed are you, Simon!” Jesus proclaims Peter “Blessed” because he has received a revelation from the Father. Here, also, the response of Jesus is not new. Before, Jesus had praised the Father because He had revealed the Son to the little ones and not to the wise (Mt 11:25-27) and had made the same proclamation of joy to the disciples who were seeing and hearing new things which, up until then, nobody had known or heard (Mt 13:16).
• Matthew 16:18-20: The attributions of Peter: To be rock and to receive the keys of the Kingdom.
(a) To be rock: Peter has to be Rock that is the stable basis for the Church in such a way that it can prevail against the gates of hell. With these words which Jesus addressed to Peter, Matthew encourages the persecuted community of Syria and Palestine, to see in Peter the leader who belongs to their origin. In spite of persecution and weakness, the community has a firm basis, guaranteed by the word of Jesus. The notion of being rock based on faith evokes the word of God to the people in exile: “Listen to Me, you who pursue saving justice, you who seek Yahweh; consider the rock (pietra) from which you were hewn, the quarry from which you were dug; consider Abraham your father, and Sarah who gave birth to you. When I called him, he was the only one, but I blessed him and made him numerous” (Isa 51:1-2). This indicates that a new beginning of the People of God is with Peter.
(b) The keys of the Kingdom: Peter receives the keys of the Kingdom. The same power of binding and loosing is also given to the communities (Mt 18:18) and to the other disciples (Jn 20:23). One of the points on which the Gospel of Matthew insists is reconciliation and pardon. It is one of the more important tasks of coordinators of the communities. By imitating Peter, they should bind and loosen, that is, do in such a way that there is reconciliation and reciprocal acceptance, construction of fraternity, even up to seventy times (Mt 18:22).
• Matthew 16:21-22: Jesus completes what was missing in Peter’s response, and Peter reacts. Jesus begins saying that He had “to go to Jerusalem and suffer very much on the part of the Elders, of the high priests and of the scribes, and be killed and on the third day, rise from the dead.”. Saying that He had to go and would be killed, or that it was necessary to suffer, He indicated that suffering had been foreseen by the prophecies. The way of the Messiah is not only one of triumph and glory, but also one of suffering and of the cross! If Peter accepts Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God, he has to accept Him also as Messiah servant who will be killed. But Peter does not accept Jesus’ correction and tries to draw Him away. Taking Jesus aside, he began to rebuke Him: Heaven preserve You, Lord, this must not happen to You!”
• Matthew 16:23: Jesus’ reply to Peter: stumbling stone. Jesus’ response is surprising. Peter wanted to steer Jesus in another direction. Jesus reacts: “Get behind Me, Satan. You are an obstacle in My path, because you are thinking not as God thinks but as human beings do.” Peter has to follow Jesus, and not the contrary. Jesus is the one who gives the directions. Satan is the one who draws people away from the road traced by Jesus. Once again the expression rock – pietra - appears, but now in the contrary sense. Peter, at one time, is the supporting rock; at other times, the stumbling block! The communities at the time of Matthew were like that, characterized by ambiguity. This is the way we all are, according to what John Paul II said, that the papacy itself was characterized by the same ambiguity of Peter: rock of support for the faith and stumbling block in the faith.
• At that time, the communities fostered a very strong affective bond of union with the leaders who had given origin to the community. For example, the communities of Antioch in Syria fostered their relationship with Peter. Those of Greece promoted their relationship with Paul; some communities of Asia, with the Beloved Disciple and others with the person of John of the Apocalypse. Identification with these leaders to whom they owed their origin helped the communities to build better their identity and spirituality. But this could also be a reason for dispute, like in the case of the community of Corinth (1 Cor 1:11-12).
• Matthew 16:13-16: The opinions of the people and of the disciples concerning Jesus. Jesus asks the opinion of the people concerning Himself, the Son of Man. The responses are varied: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the Prophets. When Jesus asks the disciples’ opinion, Peter becomes the spokesman and says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” The response is not a new one. Previously, the disciples had said the same thing (Mt 14:33). In John’s Gospel, the same profession of faith is made by Martha (Jn 11:27). It means that the prophecies of the Old Testament are realized in Jesus.
• Matthew 16:17: Jesus’ response to Peter: "Blessed are you, Simon!” Jesus proclaims Peter “Blessed” because he has received a revelation from the Father. Here, also, the response of Jesus is not new. Before, Jesus had praised the Father because He had revealed the Son to the little ones and not to the wise (Mt 11:25-27) and had made the same proclamation of joy to the disciples who were seeing and hearing new things which, up until then, nobody had known or heard (Mt 13:16).
• Matthew 16:18-20: The attributions of Peter: To be rock and to receive the keys of the Kingdom.
(a) To be rock: Peter has to be Rock that is the stable basis for the Church in such a way that it can prevail against the gates of hell. With these words which Jesus addressed to Peter, Matthew encourages the persecuted community of Syria and Palestine, to see in Peter the leader who belongs to their origin. In spite of persecution and weakness, the community has a firm basis, guaranteed by the word of Jesus. The notion of being rock based on faith evokes the word of God to the people in exile: “Listen to Me, you who pursue saving justice, you who seek Yahweh; consider the rock (pietra) from which you were hewn, the quarry from which you were dug; consider Abraham your father, and Sarah who gave birth to you. When I called him, he was the only one, but I blessed him and made him numerous” (Isa 51:1-2). This indicates that a new beginning of the People of God is with Peter.
(b) The keys of the Kingdom: Peter receives the keys of the Kingdom. The same power of binding and loosing is also given to the communities (Mt 18:18) and to the other disciples (Jn 20:23). One of the points on which the Gospel of Matthew insists is reconciliation and pardon. It is one of the more important tasks of coordinators of the communities. By imitating Peter, they should bind and loosen, that is, do in such a way that there is reconciliation and reciprocal acceptance, construction of fraternity, even up to seventy times (Mt 18:22).
• Matthew 16:21-22: Jesus completes what was missing in Peter’s response, and Peter reacts. Jesus begins saying that He had “to go to Jerusalem and suffer very much on the part of the Elders, of the high priests and of the scribes, and be killed and on the third day, rise from the dead.”. Saying that He had to go and would be killed, or that it was necessary to suffer, He indicated that suffering had been foreseen by the prophecies. The way of the Messiah is not only one of triumph and glory, but also one of suffering and of the cross! If Peter accepts Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God, he has to accept Him also as Messiah servant who will be killed. But Peter does not accept Jesus’ correction and tries to draw Him away. Taking Jesus aside, he began to rebuke Him: Heaven preserve You, Lord, this must not happen to You!”
• Matthew 16:23: Jesus’ reply to Peter: stumbling stone. Jesus’ response is surprising. Peter wanted to steer Jesus in another direction. Jesus reacts: “Get behind Me, Satan. You are an obstacle in My path, because you are thinking not as God thinks but as human beings do.” Peter has to follow Jesus, and not the contrary. Jesus is the one who gives the directions. Satan is the one who draws people away from the road traced by Jesus. Once again the expression rock – pietra - appears, but now in the contrary sense. Peter, at one time, is the supporting rock; at other times, the stumbling block! The communities at the time of Matthew were like that, characterized by ambiguity. This is the way we all are, according to what John Paul II said, that the papacy itself was characterized by the same ambiguity of Peter: rock of support for the faith and stumbling block in the faith.
4) Personal questions
• What are the opinions about Jesus which exist in our
community? These differences in the way of living and of expressing faith, do
they enrich the community or do they render the way more difficult?
• What type of rock is our community? What is our mission?
• What type of rock is our community? What is our mission?
5) Concluding Prayer
Give me back the joy of Your salvation,
sustain in me a generous spirit.
I shall teach the wicked Your paths,
and sinners will return to You. (Ps 51:12-13)
sustain in me a generous spirit.
I shall teach the wicked Your paths,
and sinners will return to You. (Ps 51:12-13)
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