Readings: Thursday, 18th week in ordinary time.

First Reading

First Reading: Jer 31:31-34

 

 
 
The days are coming, says the LORD,
 when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel
 and the house of Judah.
 It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers:
 the day I took them by the hand
 to lead them forth from the land of Egypt;
 for they broke my covenant,
 and I had to show myself their master, says the LORD.
 But this is the covenant that I will make
 with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD.
 I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts;
 I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
 No longer will they have need to teach their friends and relatives
 how to know the LORD.
 All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the LORD,
 for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more.

Responsorial Psalm

 

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 112:1-2,5-6,7-8,9
 
R./ Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
 
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
R./ Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
 
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R./ Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
 
An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear
till he looks down upon his foes.
R./ Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
 
Lavishly he gives to the poor, 
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R./ Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.

Holy Gospel

Gospel Reading:  Mt 16:13-23

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."