PERFECTED IN WEAKNESS
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Gather as a family/ community; create an environment appropriate for prayer (dress appropriately - switch off your phones...). We are conscious that Christ is present not only in the Blessed Sacrament but also in the Scriptures and in our hearts. Even when we are on our own, we remain part of the Body of Christ.Place lighted candles, a crucifix, and the Bible on a covered table. These remind us of the sacredness of our time of prayer and could help us feel connected with our local worshipping communities.
You may sing or play an appropriate hymn. For instance:
The Sign of the Cross
Greeting and Introductory Words
L: The Lord invites us to the table of his Word: let us bless him for his goodness.A: Blessed be God forever.
L: We sometimes wonder how Jesus put his Church into the hands of weak and frail people – our leaders and us. We get disheartened by our failures and those of our leaders. But God trusts us and our leaders.Let us pray for ourselves and for our leaders that we may allow God to strengthen us for the work of his kingdom.
Penitential Rite
L: And for the times we have become discouraged with failure, we ask God for his mercy. Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God: Lord, have mercy.A: Lord, have mercy.L: Lord Jesus, you commissioned Peter as the rock on which you built your church: Christ, have mercy.A: Christ, have mercy.L: Lord Jesus, you promised that the powers of evil would never overcome your people despite their frailty: Lord, have mercy.A: Lord, have mercy.
L: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.A: Amen.
Gloria Opening Prayer
L: Living God, increase our faith, that we may confess Jesus as your Son, take up his work on earth, and trust his promise to sustain the Church. He lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. A: Amen.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Readings
The readings are those assigned for the day in the Lectionary.Preferably use a Bible/ Lectionary for reading.
Reading 1 Isaiah 22:19-23Psalm Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8Response Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.Reading 2 Romans 11:33-36Acclamation Alleluia, alleluia. You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.Gospel Matthew 16:13-20 Reflection on the Readings Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Imagine you are with Jesus and his disciples in the region of Caesarea Philippi. He asks: “Who do you say that I am?” What is your response? Then you hear him commend Peter: “Blessed are you, Simon… you are Peter…” What are your feelings and thoughts?
Sunday Snippets
Duke Ellington – composer, pianist, and conductor – composed with each musician in mind. He said: “You keep their weaknesses in your head as you write, and that way you astonish them with their strengths.”
That’s the way God works with the leaders he chooses and with us: he keeps our weaknesses in mind and astonishes us with our strengths; he perfects us in weakness.
But why does God choose people with faults and foibles as leaders? We have a response in this Sunday’s gospel! In response to Jesus’ question about his identity, Simon acknowledges him as the Christ. Jesus gives Simon a new name: Peter; and a mission: the foundation for the Church.
What kind of a foundation was Peter? Soon after being named ‘rock’, Peter misunderstood the nature of Jesus’ mission. During Jesus’ passion, Peter denied him thrice. After the resurrection, Peter could think of nothing more productive to do than to return to fishing. Twenty years later, he withdrew from table fellowship with some Christians because they were Gentiles. By nature, Peter was not rock!
But the weak and human Simon became rock when he was open to divine revelation (“Blessed are you, Simon”), and when Jesus prayed for him (“Peter, I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail”). After Pentecost, Peter fearlessly proclaimed the gospel. He was imprisoned, tried, tortured, forbidden to preach… he did not stop preaching! Through grace, Peter became rock.
There is something of Simon in all of us. We misunderstand Jesus’ mission and words; we deny Jesus; we get engrossed in our career and work… Yet God keeps choosing us, with and despite our weaknesses, and strengthens us to be his church. He perfects us in weakness. We will be rocks when we recognize our radical need for God and his grace.
Will I open myself to his grace? Will I allow him to perfect me?
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: “He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” How can the Church be a parent in the present crises? What qualities/virtues should Church leadership have besides faith? How do I exercise leadership in my family/church?
Reading 2: “For who has known the mind of the Lord?” Do I attempt to discern the mind of the Lord in my life? Do I know where God is leading me, or what God is doing in my life?
Gospel: Confessing Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, is difficult when we are surrounded by contrary powers, beliefs, and ideologies. How do I profess my faith in such situations?What type of rock am I for others? What is the mission the Lord has given me?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: Let us bring our petitions to God our Father from whom comes all authority in heaven and on earth, and pray: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For Pope Francis, St Peter’s successor: that the Holy Spirit may guide him in proclaiming the Good News, promoting unity in the Church, and inspiring us to greater love and service, we pray… R: For all who exercise authority: that they may recognize God as the source of all authority and use their power for promoting justice and the common good, we pray…R: For all who are suffering from disasters, unemployment, persecution, or sickness: that God may relieve their pain, protect them from harm, and give them strength of spirit, we pray…R: For greater stewardship of the earth: that our hearts may be moved as we behold the wondrous work of God in nature and that we may care for it so that future generations may see God’s work, we pray…R: For ourselves: that we may boldly profess Jesus as Lord and help others to come to know and follow him, we pray…
L: God our Father, may we become more like your Son, unconcerned about power and prestige, and reflect his attitude, who came not to be served but to serve. He is Lord for ever and ever. A: Amen.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
The Lord’s Prayer
Spiritual Communion
A: Jesus, I know and believe in your real presence in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. It is you I desire to love and receive above all things. As I am unable to receive your sacramental presence now, come and be with me in heart and soul. Let my entire self be united with you as I welcome you again and know your loving embrace. Amen.
Post Spiritual Communion Reflection
Lord,when you asked your disciples that question,Simon was awkwardly bold, and walked on water again, figuratively this time. And you gave him a high compliment.Yet, the apostle whom you renamed “rock” did not understand your mission to suffer and die,betrayed you in your worst need,went back to his boat and nets.But Simon came back to you. Every time.He clung to you in the face of his own brokenness.Simon loved you, and held on to you anyway.That is why he is Peter.
Lord, I know my own “un-rightnesses” and I need to pray with them with humility.Like Simon, I misunderstand your mission and mine;deny you, betray you, forget you;focus on my plans and my career.Like Simon, may I come back to you every time,may I cling to you in love and through my frailties.And may I keep responding in word and deed:“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: God our Father, make our faith grow in us, that it may weather all difficulties. Give us also a great understanding and trust in the leadership of the Church, that with our Pope and our bishops we may strengthen the community of the faithful of your Church. Through Christ our Lord.A: Amen.
Blessing
L: The Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and lead us to everlasting life.A: Amen.
L: Go in the peace of Christ.A: Thanks be to God.
Conclude with a hymn. For instance:
Duke Ellington – composer, pianist, and conductor – composed with each musician in mind. He said: “You keep their weaknesses in your head as you write, and that way you astonish them with their strengths.”
That’s the way God works with the leaders he chooses and with us: he keeps our weaknesses in mind and astonishes us with our strengths; he perfects us in weakness.
But why does God choose people with faults and foibles as leaders?
We have a response in this Sunday’s gospel! In response to Jesus’ question about his identity, Simon acknowledges him as the Christ. Jesus gives Simon a new name: Peter; and a mission: the foundation for the Church.
What kind of a foundation was Peter?
Soon after being named ‘rock’, Peter misunderstood the nature of Jesus’ mission. During Jesus’ passion, Peter denied him thrice. After the resurrection, Peter could think of nothing more productive to do than to return to fishing. Twenty years later, he withdrew from table fellowship with some Christians because they were Gentiles.
By nature, Peter was not rock!
But the weak and human Simon became rock when he was open to divine revelation (“Blessed are you, Simon”), and when Jesus prayed for him (“Peter, I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail”). After Pentecost, Peter fearlessly proclaimed the gospel. He was imprisoned, tried, tortured, forbidden to preach… he did not stop preaching!
Through grace, Peter became rock.
There is something of Simon in all of us. We misunderstand Jesus’ mission and words; we deny Jesus; we get engrossed in our career and work…
Yet God keeps choosing us, with and despite our weaknesses, and strengthens us to be his church. He perfects us in weakness. We will be rocks when we recognize our radical need for God and his grace.
Will I open myself to his grace? Will I allow him to perfect me?
