My reflections for Feb. 22, 2006 - Wednesday

February 22, 2006

Reading I
1 Peter 5:1-4

Beloved:
I exhort the presbyters among you,
as a fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christ
and one who has a share in the glory to be revealed.
Tend the flock of God in your midst,
overseeing not by constraint but willingly,
as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
Do not lord it over those assigned to you,
but be examples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd is revealed,
you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

(Today we celebrate the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter. As we reflect upon the gift of the papacy to the Church, let us be thankful for the leadership that we are given through it. Let us also pray for our pope that he will be a man who has the heat of a shepherd for the Church in imitation of Jesus. It cannot who has the heart of a shepherd for the Church in imitation of Jesus. It cannot be easy to lead the Church - I am sure the pope needs as many prayers as he can get.)

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 23:1-3a, 4, 5, 6

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Gospel
Matthew 16:13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
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.

(It is important to build on a firm foundation. The bigger the building, the stronger the foundation needs to be. The Church is a huge institution built on the foundation stone of Jesus Christ. However, His representative here on earth is a person like any one of us. He is prone to sin and will have to struggle to grow in holiness. Let us pray for him that the grace he needs to fulfill his duties will be given to him.)

God's special verse/thought for me today.

my reflections
think: In my own small way, I am a leader. How do I approach leadership?

thank You Lord for: