Daily Mass Readings & Meditations for Sunday, 24 August 2014

Daily Mass Readings & Meditations for Sunday, 24 August 2014
Meditations: Matthew 16: Son of Man, Son of God
13 When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
15 He pressed them, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter said, “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17-18 Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.
19 “And that’s not all. You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.”
20 He swore the disciples to secrecy. He made them promise they would tell no one that he was the Messiah.
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Upon this rock I will build my church. (Matthew 16:18)
For years, Mother Teresa of Calcutta was an object of international acclaim, a celebrity of sorts whom people wanted to meet. Yet not everyone who sought her out embraced her words about serving Jesus or finding God in the poorest of the poor. In a sense, Mother Teresa made people feel good. Here was a person freely serving the poor without wanting anything in return. How upbeat is that!
In a similar way, Jesus had become a minor celebrity in his own time. Many people knew of him, but not many grasped who he was or the nature of his mission. But that changed somewhat when Simon Peter announced that Jesus was the Messiah and Son of God. Up to that point, Jesus had revealed himself through miracles and sermons. Now it was time to move to the next level—at least with his disciples. It was time to begin showing them what kind of Messiah he was, that he was out to do more than heal and forgive. He had come to establish a Church, not just pardon people’s sins—and the disciples were destined to become that Church’s pillars!
Establishing the Church was the most important thing Jesus came to do. What good would it have been if he had stopped at redeeming us from sin? We would still have needed his ongoing grace to grow closer to him and help change the world. And that’s exactly what the Church is for. As we are taught by his word and nourished by his Body and Blood, we can keep moving forward, becoming the holy people he longs for us to be.
How do you see Jesus? As your personal Friend and Savior? Or as the Lord of a new creation? Yes, he came to rescue you from sin. But he also came to give you a new home!
“Jesus, thank you for making us into your people, your Church. Teach us to love each other and to lay down our lives for each other—just as you did.” Amen!
Isaiah 22: The Key of the Davidic Heritage
15-19 The Master, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, spoke: “Come. Go to this steward, Shebna, who is in charge of all the king’s affairs, and tell him: What’s going on here? You’re an outsider here and yet you act like you own the place, make a big, fancy tomb for yourself where everyone can see it, making sure everyone will think you’re important. God is about to sack you, to throw you to the dogs. He’ll grab you by the hair, swing you round and round dizzyingly, and then let you go, sailing through the air like a ball, until you’re out of sight. Where you’ll land, nobody knows. And there you’ll die, and all the stuff you’ve collected heaped on your grave. You’ve disgraced your master’s house! You’re fired—and good riddance!
20-24 “On that Day I’ll replace Shebna. I will call my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah. I’ll dress him in your robe. I’ll put your belt on him. I’ll give him your authority. He’ll be a father-leader to Jerusalem and the government of Judah. I’ll give him the key of the Davidic heritage. He’ll have the run of the place—open any door and keep it open, lock any door and keep it locked. I’ll pound him like a nail into a solid wall. He’ll secure the Davidic tradition. Everything will hang on him—not only the fate of Davidic descendants but also the detailed daily operations of the house, including cups and cutlery.
Psalms 138: A David Psalm
1-3 Thank you! Everything in me says “Thank you!”
    Angels listen as I sing my thanks.
I kneel in worship facing your holy temple
    and say it again: “Thank you!”
Thank you for your love,
    thank you for your faithfulness;
Most holy is your name,
    most holy is your Word.
The moment I called out, you stepped in;
    you made my life large with strength.
4-6 When they hear what you have to say, God,
    all earth’s kings will say “Thank you.”
They’ll sing of what you’ve done:
    “How great the glory of God!”
And here’s why: God, high above, sees far below;
    no matter the distance, he knows everything about us.
7-8 When I walk into the thick of trouble,
    keep me alive in the angry turmoil.
With one hand
    strike my foes,
With your other hand
    save me.
Finish what you started in me, God.
    Your love is eternal—don’t quit on me now.
Romans 11:33-36 Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out.
Is there anyone around who can explain God?
Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do?
Anyone who has done him such a huge favor
    that God has to ask his advice?
Everything comes from him;
Everything happens through him;
Everything ends up in him.
Always glory! Always praise!
    Yes. Yes. Yes.
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion:
(Isaiah 22: The Key of the Davidic Heritage
15-19 The Master, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, spoke: “Come. Go to this steward, Shebna, who is in charge of all the king’s affairs, and tell him: What’s going on here? You’re an outsider here and yet you act like you own the place, make a big, fancy tomb for yourself where everyone can see it, making sure everyone will think you’re important. God is about to sack you, to throw you to the dogs. He’ll grab you by the hair, swing you round and round dizzyingly, and then let you go, sailing through the air like a ball, until you’re out of sight. Where you’ll land, nobody knows. And there you’ll die, and all the stuff you’ve collected heaped on your grave. You’ve disgraced your master’s house! You’re fired—and good riddance!
20-24 “On that Day I’ll replace Shebna. I will call my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah. I’ll dress him in your robe. I’ll put your belt on him. I’ll give him your authority. He’ll be a father-leader to Jerusalem and the government of Judah. I’ll give him the key of the Davidic heritage. He’ll have the run of the place—open any door and keep it open, lock any door and keep it locked. I’ll pound him like a nail into a solid wall. He’ll secure the Davidic tradition. Everything will hang on him—not only the fate of Davidic descendants but also the detailed daily operations of the house, including cups and cutlery.
Psalms 138: A David Psalm
1-3 Thank you! Everything in me says “Thank you!”
    Angels listen as I sing my thanks.
I kneel in worship facing your holy temple
    and say it again: “Thank you!”
Thank you for your love,
    thank you for your faithfulness;
Most holy is your name,
    most holy is your Word.
The moment I called out, you stepped in;
    you made my life large with strength.
4-6 When they hear what you have to say, God,
    all earth’s kings will say “Thank you.”
They’ll sing of what you’ve done:
    “How great the glory of God!”
And here’s why: God, high above, sees far below;
    no matter the distance, he knows everything about us.
7-8 When I walk into the thick of trouble,
    keep me alive in the angry turmoil.
With one hand
    strike my foes,
With your other hand
    save me.
Finish what you started in me, God.
    Your love is eternal—don’t quit on me now.
Romans 11:33-36 Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out.
Is there anyone around who can explain God?
Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do?
Anyone who has done him such a huge favor
    that God has to ask his advice?
Everything comes from him;
Everything happens through him;
Everything ends up in him.
Always glory! Always praise!
    Yes. Yes. Yes.
Matthew 16: Son of Man, Son of God
13 When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
15 He pressed them, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter said, “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17-18 Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.
19 “And that’s not all. You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.”
20 He swore the disciples to secrecy. He made them promise they would tell no one that he was the Messiah.)
“Jesus, thank you for making us into your people, your Church. 
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion:
1. In the first reading from Isaiah, the Lord tells us that Eliakim “shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah,” and the Lord will “fix him as a peg in a sure spot, to be a place of honor for his family.” Whether you are a father or not, what are some things you can do to bring greater honor to your family, friends, parishioners, and co-workers—or to those in need?
2. When the responsorial psalm asks the Lord not to forsake the work of his hands, it suggests we are a “work in progress.” How would you describe the areas of your life that may need some additional “tweaking” by the Lord? What specifically can you do to make yourself more available to the Lord for this tweaking?
3. In the second reading, St. Paul is almost bowled over just thinking of God’s greatness: “How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways.” Does reflecting on “the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God” make him more or less approachable to you? Why? How could you change your prayer time to include 1) focusing more on God’s greatness and 2) asking him to draw you closer to him?
4. In the Gospel, Jesus asks his disciples the following question: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” How would you answer this question? Do you believe your answer also comes from revelation by your “heavenly Father”?
5. Jesus also assures Peter and the Apostles that Satan will never prevail against the Church. This same confidence should inspire you as well, since you are a member of his Church. What steps can you take to increase your confidence in this reality in your own life?
6. In the meditation, we hear these words: “Establishing the Church was the most important thing Jesus came to do. What good would it have been if he had stopped at redeeming us from sin? We would still have needed his ongoing grace to grow closer to him and help change the world. And that’s exactly what the Church is for.” In what ways has the Church helped you to “grow closer to him and help change the world”?
7. Take some time now to pray and thank the Lord for establishing his Church. Ask him to show you how he wants to use you to help strengthen the Church, that is, his people. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.
Teach us to love each other and to lay down our lives for each other—just as you did.” Amen!
____________________________