21st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 4 / (Green)
Ps 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8
Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.
1st Reading: Is 22:19-23
You will be deposed, strongman. I will hurl you down from where you are.
On that day I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah.
I will clothe him with your robe, I will strengthen him with your girdle, I will give him your authority, and he will be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the people of Judah.
Upon his shoulder I will place the key of the house of David: what he opens, no one shall shut; what he shuts, no one shall open.
I will fasten him like a peg in a sure spot, and he will be a seat of honor in the house of his father.
2nd Reading: Rom 11:33-36
How deep are the riches, the wisdom and knowledge of God! His decisions cannot be explained, nor his ways understood! Who has ever known God’s thoughts? Who has ever been his adviser? Who has given him something first, so that God had to repay him? For everything comes from him, has been made by him and has to return to him. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.
Gospel: Mt 16:13-20
After that, Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi. He asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They said, “For some of them, you are John the Baptist; for others Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”
Jesus asked them, “But you, who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “It is well for you, Simon Barjona, for it is not flesh or blood that has revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.
And now I say to you: You are Peter; and on this Rock I will build my Church; and never will the powers of death overcome it.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you unbind on earth shall be unbound in heaven.”
Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
REFLECTION:
Read: Inscrutable are the ways of God and His wisdom. Yahweh reveals His plan to depose Shebna, a major officer in the court, and install Eliakim in his place. At Caesarea Philippi, Peter makes the profession of faith and Christ deposits the keys of the Kingdom with Peter.
Reflect: What made God choose Eliakim to own the keys of David? What made Christ choose Peter to own the keys of the Kingdom? Neither of them was a perfect human being. But God chooses not according to human merits, but by God’s own wisdom that is beyond human understanding. If God has called us to do some task, let us humbly realize that it is not out of our merit, but of His own that He has chosen us. All praise, glory, honor, and worship to Him alone.
Pray: Let us pray for a humble and willing heart to accept God’s call.
Act: Role-play Peter. How would you respond to the assignment from Jesus?
Daily Reflection
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
Readings and Reflections
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