A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah Is 22:19-23
Thus says the LORD to Shebna, master of the palace:
“I will thrust you from your office
and pull you down from your station.
On that day I will summon my servant
Eliakim, son of Hilkiah;
I will clothe him with your robe,
and gird him with your sash,
and give over to him your authority.
He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
and to the house of Judah.
I will place the key of the House of David on Eliakim’s shoulder;
when he opens, no one shall shut
when he shuts, no one shall open.
I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot,
to be a place of honor for his family.”
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8
R. Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple.
R. Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.
I will give thanks to your name,
because of your kindness and your truth:
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
R. Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.
The LORD is exalted, yet the lowly he sees,
and the proud he knows from afar.
Your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.
R. Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.
Second Reading
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans Rom 11:33-36
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!
For who has known the mind of the Lord
or who has been his counselor?
Or who has given the Lord anything
that he may be repaid?
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be glory forever. Amen.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Mt 16:18
You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia
Gospel
P: The Lord be with you.
P: A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew Mt 16:13-20
Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and
he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
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.
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.
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.”
Then he strictly ordered his disciples
to tell no one that he was the Christ.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
BIDDING PRAYERS
Jesus affirmed the bedrock of Peter’s faith. Let us pray that our faith in Christ will build up the church in love.
Our prayer response today is, “Christ Jesus, hear our prayer!”
- Jesus, like Peter, the church professes that you are the Messiah. May our words become actions that bring your life to the world. We pray: “Christ Jesus, hear our prayer!”
- In Peter you have given your household a sure servant. May the apostolic ministry of Pope [name], servant of the servants of God, uphold your church in peace and unity. We pray: “Christ Jesus, hear our prayer!”
- Like Peter, the teachers of the church profess you are the Christ. Sustain bishops and theologians by the Spirit’s wisdom as they apply the truths of faith to issues of our time. We pray: “Christ Jesus, hear our prayer!”
- Like Peter, your disciples profess you are God’s Anointed. Confirm in the church’s vowed religious and clergy gifts in keeping with the riches of God’s glory. We pray: “Christ Jesus, hear our prayer!”
Saving God, receive our prayers that we make in the name of your beloved, Jesus the Messiah, who lives and reigns forever and ever.
