Daily Readings - Thu Aug 08 2024
Jeremiah
31"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,32not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD.33But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.34And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
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.21From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you."23But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."
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.