1ST READING
St.
Dominic is the founder of the Order of Preachers, the Dominicans. He
remains an enormous source of inspiration to men and women who have
taken up the call to follow in the path of Dominican spirituality. St.
Dominic committed his men to the fearless preaching of the Gospel while
living a simple evangelical life of poverty, in response to the excesses
of the Church during his time. He was a kindred spirit to Francis of
Assisi but it is unknown if they ever met.
Numbers 20:1-13
1 The
whole congregation of the children of Israel arrived in the desert of
Zin in the first month, and the people settled at Kadesh. It was here
that Miriam died, and here that she was buried. 2 As the community had no water, they held a council against Moses and Aaron. 3 The people contended with Moses, exclaiming, “Would that we too had perished with our kinsmen in the Lord’s presence! 4
Why have you brought the Lord’s assembly into this desert where we and our livestock are dying? 5 Why
did you lead us out of Egypt, only to bring us to this wretched place
which has neither grain nor figs nor vines nor pomegranates? Here there
is not even water to drink!” 6 But
Moses and Aaron went away from the assembly to the entrance of the
meeting tent, where they fell prostrate. Then the glory of the Lord
appeared to them, 7 and the Lord said to Moses, 8 “Take
the staff and assemble the community, you and your brother Aaron, and
in their presence order the rock to yield its waters. From the rock you
shall bring forth water for the congregation and their livestock to
drink.” 9 So Moses took the staff from its place before the Lord, as he was ordered. 10 He
and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock, where he said
to them, “Listen to me, you rebels! Are we to bring water for you out of
this rock?” 11
Then,
raising his hand, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff, and water
gushed out in abundance for the people and their livestock to drink. 12 But
the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you were not faithful to me
in showing forth my sanctity before the children of Israel, you shall
not lead this community into the land I will give them.” 13 These are the waters of Meribah, where the children of Israel contended against the Lord, and where the Lord revealed his sanctity among them.
P S A L M
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
R: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
1 Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord; let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us joyfully sing psalms to him. (R) 6 Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the Lord who made us. 7 For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
(R) Oh, that today you would hear his voice, 8 “Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, 9 Where your fathers tested me; they tested me though they had seen my works.” (R)
GOSPEL
The
authority of Peter as the Pope — the same authority exercised by the
Bishop of Rome today, Pope Benedict XVI — does have a scriptural basis.
Historically speaking, it is arguable that it is this authority that has
enabled the Church to maintain its commitment to and focus upon the
Gospel throughout two millennia. Without a centralized point of
authority, the Church would have splintered into all sorts of competing
power groups, as evidenced by the multitude of Orthodox Churches and the
immense number of Protestant offshoots.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:13-23
13 Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 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. 18 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. 19 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.” 20 Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. 21 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. 22 Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” 23 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.”
think:
The authority of the Pope has enabled the Church to maintain its
commitment to and focus upon the Gospel throughout two millennia.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
____________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today_
_____________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 2 Maccabees 1-2
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