Saturday, February 22, 2020

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church;
the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. MT 16:18


1 PETER 5:1-4
PSALM 23:1-3A, 4-6
MATTHEW 13:16-19


1 PETER 5:1-4

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

It is not by chance that the Church celebrates the Feast of the Chair of St Peter, the prince of the Apostles, just before the Season of Lent. It is a reminder to us that he is the one chosen by You as head of the Church You founded.

Every organization needs a hierarchy in order for it to function properly and each member has a distinct role to play. There must be one who leads, one who has the authority, one who ensures that there is order, each of its members doing their part to ensure harmony within the whole.

Every priest is called to obey Peter in his role as the visible head of the Church and Peter himself is subject to Christ alone who will be a stern judge if he has failed. As for the members of the Church, we are called to be guided by him, pray for him, and trust implicitly in Your promise that the gates of hell will not prevail against her.

PSALM 23:1-3A, 4-6

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

When life is turbulent and there is nothing but trouble on every side this psalm can calm our soul. No matter how difficult our circumstances are, if we cling to this truth, that You are our shepherd and we shall not want, we will experience supernatural peace.

We are sealed in the Holy Spirit and in Your Blood in the Sacrament of Baptism. We are marked for glory. We are only pilgrims on earth and our journey here will come to an end. Eternity in the Kingdom of God awaits all who have trusted in You and Your Word and have been faithful to the end. We, Your people, the sheep of Your flock, will share in Your crown of glory just as You have promised.


MATTHEW 13:16-19

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

To Simon alone, was given the revelation made by the Holy Spirit that You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. You attested to this truth when You said, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father." 

Every word, every promise in the Gospel is written by the finger of the Holy Spirit and hence it must be taken very seriously. Our final destiny depends on how faithful we have been in following Your Word.  You go on to say, "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.”

We are blessed that we do not have to muddle along on our own, You have given us the Church; within her bosom is the deposit of faith. She ensures that it is handed down without corruption, from one generation to the next until You come again in glory to claim Your Bride and present her to Your Father in heaven, without wrinkle or stain. Maranatha! Lord Jesus, Maranatha!


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