Daily Readings - Sun Aug 27 2023
Isaiah
15Thus says the Lord GOD of hosts, "Come, go to this steward, to Shebna, who is over the household, and say to him:19I will thrust you from your office, and you will be pulled down from your station.20In that day I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah,21and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your sash on him, and will commit your authority to his hand. And he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.22And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.23And I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father's house.
Romans
33Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!34"For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?"35"Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?"36For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Matthew
13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"14And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."15He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"16Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."17And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."20Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the mystery of God’s wisdom and the call to faithful leadership in His plan of salvation. In the first reading from Isaiah, we encounter a dramatic shift in authority. Shebna, who had been entrusted with the care of the temple, is removed from his position, and Eliakim is appointed in his place. Eliakim is given the key of the house of David, symbolizing his new role as a steward of God’s people. This passage reminds us that all authority comes from God and that with it comes great responsibility to serve and lead with integrity.
The second reading from Romans takes us deeper into the mystery of God’s wisdom. St. Paul marvels at the incomprehensibility of God’s judgments and ways, emphasizing that all things come from Him, through Him, and for Him. This passage calls us to humility and trust in the face of life’s uncertainties. It reminds us that while we may not always understand God’s plan, we can rely on His infinite wisdom and love.
In the Gospel, we witness a pivotal moment in the life of Jesus and His disciples. When Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter responds with a confession of faith, declaring Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus praises Peter for this gift of faith, which comes not from human understanding but from the Father in heaven. He then entrusts Peter with the keys of the kingdom, symbolizing the authority to lead and serve the Church. This passage reminds us that faith is a gift, and with it comes the responsibility to build up the Body of Christ.
These readings challenge us to live out our faith with courage and humility. Like Eliakim, we are called to serve others with integrity, trusting in God’s wisdom even when the path is unclear. Like Peter, we are called to profess our faith boldly and to use the gifts and authority we have been given to serve the Church and the world. May we, like the saints, allow ourselves to be instruments of God’s plan, trusting in His wisdom and living out our faith in love and service.