Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Intention: For parents sending children back to school this week, especially those doing it alone or on a tight budget, that they have what they need and are not made to feel judged for what they do not.
Today’s Gospel | Matthew 16:13-20
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 the Ninth Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Act in such a way through your zeal that you give tangible proof that you love those whom God has entrusted to you, just as Jesus Christ has loved his Church. Help them enter truly into the structure of this building, and be in condition to appear one day before Jesus Christ full of glory, without stain, without wrinkle, without blemish.
Prayer
Eternal Father, your Son asked the question in the open and waited for an answer. Peter got it right and still did not understand what he had said. Give us the honesty to answer for ourselves rather than repeat what other people say about you. Build what you are building on people as unfinished as we are. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.