Daily Readings - Thu Aug 08 2024
Jeremiah
31Behold, the days are approaching, says the Lord, when I will form a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah32not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day when I took them by the hand, so as to lead them away from the land of Egypt, the covenant which they nullified, though I was the ruler over them, says the Lord33But this will be the covenant that I will form with the house of Israel, after those days, says the Lord: I will give my law to their inner most being, and I will write it upon their heart. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people34And they will no longer teach, a man his neighbor, and a man his brother, saying: ‘Know the Lord.’ For all will know me, from the littlest of them even to the greatest, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will no longer remember their sin
Matthew
13Then Jesus went into parts of Caesarea Philippi. And he questioned his disciples, saying, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?14And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, and others say Elijah, still others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets.15Jesus said to them, "But who do you say that I am?16Simon Peter responded by saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.17And in response, Jesus said to him: "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father, who is in heaven18And I say to you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it19And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound, even in heaven. And whatever you shall release on earth shall be released, even in heaven.20Then he instructed his disciples that they should tell no one that he is Jesus the Christ21From that time, Jesus began to reveal to his disciples that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and to suffer much from the elders and the scribes and the leaders of the priests, and to be killed, and to rise again on the third day22And Peter, taking him aside, began to rebuke him, saying, "Lord, may it be far from you; this shall not happen to you.23And turning away, Jesus said to Peter: "Get behind me, Satan; you are an obstacle to me. For you are not behaving according to what is of God, but according to what is of men.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of God's covenant and our response to His call. In Jeremiah, we hear of a new covenant, one that transcends the old, written not on stone tablets but on the hearts of God's people. This covenant is characterized by an intimate, personal relationship where everyone knows God, and sins are forgiven. It speaks of a time when God's law becomes an integral part of who we are, guiding our thoughts and actions from within.
In Matthew, we witness a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry as Peter confesses Him as the Christ, the Son of the living God. This confession is not just a recognition of Jesus' identity but a testament to the rock upon which the Church is built. Jesus establishes Peter as a foundational figure, granting him authority and emphasizing the enduring nature of the Church despite trials. However, this revelation is followed by Jesus' prediction of His suffering, death, and resurrection, which Peter struggles to accept. Jesus' rebuke of Peter highlights the tension between human understanding and divine will, urging us to trust in God's plan even when it is difficult.
These readings remind us that our faith is rooted in a covenant of love and forgiveness, internalized and lived out daily. Like Peter, we are called to trust in God's plan, even when it challenges our understanding. Our response should be one of faith and obedience, recognizing that the Church, built on the rock of Peter's confession, endures through trials. May we internalize God's teachings, living them out in our daily lives, and trust in His divine plan, even when the path is uncertain.