a reflection by: MARK GATES
Isaiah 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 Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. ***What else do you need to say?
Responsorial, Psalm 138, **Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands. **We are all GOD’s.!! He is the potter we are the created. 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. **The Psalms and all holy song continue to paint for us a prescription to life itself… Do you hear it? Do we try?
Reading 2 Romans 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. **When you’re right, you’re right **Amen & Amen.! “Through Him, with Him, in Him… Sound familiar?
Gospel, Matthew 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.
**AGAIN, I’m preaching to the choir,😊. I find that asking this question of myself from time to time always solicits loving and deeply different answers. Have you ever asked yourself this question preparing yourself to receive Eucharist? Whom do I say Jesus is? Always the number one answer is ‘You are The Christ’. **The Christ, The Christ, will you let Him be the Savior of your world? Personalize Jesus by personalizing the Word of God, Unchallenged! **You, Jesus, You, Am.!! ***JOY– JOY- JOY, Thank you for this time.!! Enjoy some tea, coffee, or a glass of water knowing that you rest in God’s own palm. Mark Gates, aka Bro BLU 😊.
