February 22
Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle
Give a Mass Offering
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Readings
First Reading
1 Peter 5:1-4
Beloved:
I exhort the presbyters among you,
as a fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christ
and one who has a share in the glory to be revealed.
Tend the flock of God in your midst,
overseeing not by constraint but willingly,
as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
Do not lord it over those assigned to you,
but be examples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd is revealed,
you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 23:1-3a, 4, 5, 6
R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Gospel Acclamation
Matthew 16:18
R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!
You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church;
the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!
Gospel
Matthew 16:13-19
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi 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.”
“The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”
Reflection
Perception is always interesting. A group of people can be at the same place at the same time, witness the same thing, and come away with differing opinions about what they saw and heard.
Jesus experiences this when in the Gospel of Matthew he asks his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” The answers that he receives are broad, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
Simon Peter is able to answer, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter has come to this conclusion through his faith. In response, Christ says to Simon Peter that you will be called Peter, and you will be the rock on which I build my Church. Simon, not swayed by the perception of those around him, looked within his heart and found the true answer to the identity of Christ.
We are called in much the same way to answer who Christ is to us. Do we allow the perception of society and what it thinks about organized religion or faith in Christ to sway us in our belief? Lent is a perfect time to strengthen our relationship with Christ and to come to say that he is a friend, a teacher, a savior and we want to be as close to him as possible.
Peace,
Fr. John Kurgan
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