Menu
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: 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.
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."
Opening Prayer
Lord, God of the covenant,
in this eucharist you offer us again
your communion of life and love,
your permanent friendship.
God, it is good to know that we are loved,
with a gratuitous love
that never betrays or deserts us
and rejoices with our joys.
Enlighten and purify
our fragile human loves,
that we may always be your people
and you our God for ever.
Introduction to the First Reading
Today we hear one of the most encouraging passages of Jeremiah: God will make a new covenant with humanity and write his law not in regulations but in our hearts. This was the covenant that Jesus made new and definitive on the cross. This is the covenant that we celebrate in this eucharist. With Peter we recognize Jesus among us as the Savior, the Son of the living and loving God.
Introduction to the Gospel Reading
Jesus faces his apostles with the question "Who am I?" Peter, in the name of all, professes that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, even though probably there is no direct recognition here yet of his divinity, but rather of his divine origin. After this "confession," the Lord gives Peter his mission as head of the apostolic college and of the Church. Now that they know who he is, he can tell them also of his passion, death, and resurrection. Yet, this seems too much at that time: Peter protests. His faith is not strong enough. He thinks still in human terms. We profess to know who Jesus is. But do we too, not think too often in merely human ways?
General Intercessions
- That we may be very grateful to God for remaining always faithful to the covenant he made with us even if we have been unfaithful, we pray:
- That we may be very much aware that in the name of the covenant we have also to be just, merciful and good to our neighbor, we pray:
- That we may appreciate that Jesus renews the covenant of love with us in every eucharistic celebration, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God, our Father,
in these signs of bread and wine
we celebrate the new and everlasting covenant
which through your Son Jesus Christ
you have made with us.
May he bind us to you
with a bond that can never be undone
and write into our hearts his law of self-giving love,
that we may acclaim him
as our Lord for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer after Communion
Lord, God of dependable love,
in this eucharist we have experienced
how much you are a faithful God of love.
May we respond with fruitfulness to you
and cultivate the best in us
to offer it to you and to our brothers and sisters
not by law but gratuitously,
that all that we touch may be blessed
and give praise to you, our Father,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessing
"I will write my law on your hearts. I will be your God and you shall be my people." If only we could me more aware of these words and this marvelous reality! May the almighty and loving God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
