This week’s Gospel message for Sunday, August 27th is from 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.”
Reflection
“When Jesus restates his question to his disciples, changing ‘people say’ to ‘you say,’ he is changing the question from one of opinion to one of faith. Faith gets to truth, but a truth that we cannot prove. Faith can be difficult to maintain without conclusive evidence, especially in the face of evil in the world, of seemingly senseless tragedy. It is in that light that Paul’s words today are comforting. May our faith console us.” SOURCE: Pastoral Patterns, Autumn 2023
DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8b-10; Matthew 23:13-22
Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Memorial) – Saint Augustine abandoned the Christian faith but later converted to being a Christian after he heard St. Ambrose preach while in Italy. He was ordained and became bishop of Hippo. Saint Augustine’s life story is in his Confessions. His intelligence and pastoral concern shaped Western Christianity.
Tuesday 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Mark 6:17-29
The Passion of Saint John the Baptist (Memorial) – John rebuked Herod the tetrarch for the nature of his marriage to Herodias, who was both Herod’s niece and his brother’s wife. Herod had John imprisoned, and later beheaded.
Wednesday 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13; Matthew 23:27-32
Thursday 1 Thessalonians 3:7-13; Matthew 24:42-51
Friday 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Matthew 25:1-13
Saturday 1 Thessalonians 4:9-11; Matthew 25:14-30
SOURCE: Living with Christ, August 2023