Badagry Deanery Board of Lectors

25/12/2023

28/02/2019

Thursday February 28, 2019
Week day (7)
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: Luminous Mystery
St. Hilarius

FIRST READING
“Do not delay to turn to the Lord.”
A reading from the Book of Sirach (Sirach 5 : 1-8)

Do not set your heart on your wealth, nor say, “I have enough.” Do not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires of your heart. Do not say, “Who will have power over me?” or “Who will bring me down because of my deeds?” for God will surely punish you. Do not say, “I sinned, and what happened to me?” for the Most High is slow to anger. Do not be so confident of atonement that you add sin to sin. Do not say, “His mercy is great, he will forgive the multitude of my sins,” for both mercy and wrath are with him, and his anger rests on sinners. Do not delay to turn to the Lord, nor postpone it from day to day; for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will go forth, and at the time of punishment you will perish. Do not depend on dishonest wealth, for it will not benefit you in the day of calamity.

The word of the Lord.



RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 1: 1-2.3.4 and 6 (R. Psalm 40:5ab)
R. Blessed the man who has placed his trust in the Lord.

Blessed indeed is the man
who follows not the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the path with sinners,
nor abides in the company of scorners,
but whose delight is the law of the Lord,
and who ponders his law day and night. R.

He is like a tree that is planted
beside the flowing waters,
that yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves shall never fade;
and all that he does shall prosper. R.

R. Blessed the man who has placed his trust in the Lord.

Not so are the wicked, not so!
For they, like winnowed chaff,
shall be driven away by the wind.
For the Lord knows the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked will perish. R.



ALLELUIA Thessalonians 2: 13
Alleluia. Accept the word of God, not as the word of men, but as what it really is, the word of God. Alleluia.



GOSPEL
“It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 9.41-50)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. For every one will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

The Gospel of the Lord.


Today's Reflection
The word ‘conversion’ simply means the act or process of changing. But for us to truly be converted, we must be wary of the desires of the heart that disconnect us from God. When Jesus enjoined us to remove our eyes, hands and foot if they are causing us to sin, he is definitely not calling us literarily to remove those parts of the body. We have to be ready to disciple ourselves such a way that our whole body is completely attuned to him. We must ensure that we do not delay our conversion as procrastination is a thief of time. let us always remember that nothing must separate us from the love of God made known to us in Christ Jesus.



Personal Devotional
"..I will bless those who put their trust in me, They are like trees growing near a stream" says the Lord of host.

- Pray for mercy for the times you have allowed envy to reign in your heart.

- Pray for victims of envy, that God would vindicate and restore them

- Pray for the grace to work in God’s vineyard trusting in his merciful judgement.



Let Us Pray
O Jesus, who art mercy and goodness itself, do not abandon me on account of my sins or punish me as I deserve, but graciously hear my humble prayer, and grant me the favour that I ask for thy honour and the glory of thy holy name. Amen.



CROSS OVER PRAYER from 11pm 12am.
On my knees before the EUCHARISTIC JESUS for YOU

God chose you for himself and that is why his word comes to settle everything about you. Believe that no one can harm you, and God will make your days brighter this Month of March

- Honour the LORD with thanksgiving

- Ask God for forgiveness

- Confess your love for GOD

- Appreciate all about you through February

Pray with

Isaiah. 54: 15-17 – that no weapon fashioned against me and my family shall prosper
Psalm 103 – that God keeps you safe for the sake of His mercy and love

Intercession

>Lord, redeem my life from any destruction
>Take me above powers that want to harm me
>Grace my life for the miracle of March
>Renew my hope, O GOD, in your power
>Let your healing come upon every area of my destiny that has been tampered with
>Use your gracious mercy and power to get me through my struggles
>to hold on to you to the end


Points for prayer through the month of March

Manifest your glory in my situation and life
Anoint me, LORD, to be light for my generation
Reconnect me to the Grace to fulfilling my purpose
Create something new in my life that will inspire new opportunities
Healing for my entire life

Anoint yourself and your household; sprinkle Holy Water and make this Declaration: BY GRACE, I WILL RISE AGAIN TO GREATER GLORY

Conclude with this song

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Ch: On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand 2x

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, and blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When every earthly prop gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

27/02/2019

Wednesday February 27, 2019
Week day (7)
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: Glorious Mystery
Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows

FRRST READING
The Lord loves those who love wisdom.
A reading from the Book of Sirach (Sirach 4: 11-19)

Wisdom breathes life into her sons and gives help to those who seek her. Whoever loves her loves life, and those who seek her early will win the Lord’s good favour. Whoever holds her fast will obtain glory, and the Lord will bless the place she enters. Those who serve her will minister to the Holy One; the Lord loves those who love her. He who obeys her will judge the nations, and whoever gives heed to her will dwell secure. If he has faith in her he will obtain her; and his descendants will remain in possession of her. For she will walk with him in disguise, and at first she will put him to the test; she will bring fear and cowardice upon him, and will torment him by her discipline until he holds her in his thoughts, and she trusts him. Then she will come straight back to him and strengthen him, she will gladden him and will reveal her secrets to him, and store up for him knowledge and the discernment of what is right. But if he goes astray she will forsake him, and give him over into the hands of his foe.

The word of the Lord.



RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 119: 165.168.171.172.174.175 (R. 165a)
R. The lovers of your law have great peace, Lord.

The lovers of your law have great peace;
no stumbling block for them. R.

I obey your precepts and decrees;
all my ways are before you. R.

R. The lovers of your law have great peace, Lord.

My lips shall proclaim your praise,
because you teach me your statutes. R.

My tongue will sing of your promise,
for your commands are just. R.

R. The lovers of your law have great peace, Lord.

I have longed for your salvation, O Lord,
and your law is my delight. R.

My soul shall live and praise you.
Your judgements give me help. R.



ALLELUIA John 14:6
Alleluia. I am the way, and the truth, and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father, but by me. Alleluia.



GOSPEL
“He that is not against us is for us.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 9:38-40)

At that time: John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us.”

The Gospel of the Lord.



Today's Reflection
There is a saying that ‘Getting the job done is more important than who gets the glory.’ This saying Jesus confirms when he rebukes his disciples for trying to prevent the man who is driving out demons in his name, though the man is not a member of their group, he has faith in the name of Jesus to the point that he is using it to drive demons away. Indeed, the name of Jesus is powerful: ‘At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow’ (Phil. 2:10) but often we do not appreciate the power in that name. Yes, his name is higher than any other name and those who believe in him and the power of his name will surely perform wonders through his name but not to prevent others from using his name to drive out demons. We must realize that faith is all that is necessary for the name of Jesus to work wonders in and through us. What is important therefore is not who belongs to us or who does not. What is important is that we love God and have faith in him.



Today's Saint and Quote
St Gabriel Possenti – February 27th

- Do not bestow your love on the world.

- I will attempt day by day to break my will into pieces. I want to do God’s Holy Will, not my own!



Personal Devotional
I have the strength to face all conditiions by the power that Christ gives me. Philippians 4:15

- Lord, grant me the grace given to St. Bernadette to hunger and thirst only of you

- I break every worldly passion that has stolen my joy in the name of Jesus

- I renounce the spirit of worldliness and materialism in the name of Jesus Christ.

Let Us Pray
Gracious and holy Father, please give me: intellect to understand you, reason to discern you; diligence to seek you; wisdom to find you; a spirit to know you; a heart to meditate upon you; ears to hear you; eyes to see you; a tongue to proclaim you; a way of life pleasing to you; patience to wait for you; and perseverance to look for you. Grant me: a perfect end, your holy presence. A blessed resurrection, and life everlasting.

Memory Verse: John 14:6

24/02/2019

Sunday February 24, 2019
Week day (7)
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: Glorious Mystery

Theme of the Sunday: Love Your Enemies! Love of one’s enemies is the theme linking the first reading. and the gospel. In the first reading we have the example of David who forgives Saul. In the gospel we are told that Jesus demands unselfish, disinterested and unconditional love for their enemies from his disciples. The second reading completes the catechesis by telling us about the new body that we shall receive after death. Whom can we hate or do wrong to in this world if we believe that one day we shall all sit down together in the house of our Father?

The Gloria
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you. We bless you. We adore you. We glorify you. We give you thanks for your great glory. Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.



FIRST READING
“The Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put forth my hand against the Lord’s anointed.”
A reading from the first Book of Samuel (1 Samuel 26:2.7-9.12-13.22-23)

In those days: Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, with three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. So David and Abishai went to the army by night; and there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the army lay around him. Then said Abishai to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day; now therefore let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.” But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can put forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?” So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head; and they went away. No man saw it, or knew it, nor did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them. Then David went over to the other side, and stood afar off on the top of the mountain, with a great space between them. And David said, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and fetch it. The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put forth my hand against the Lord’s anointed.”

The word of the Lord.



RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 103:1-2.3-4.g and 10.12-13 (R. 8a)
R. The Lord is compassionate and gracious.

Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all within me, his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and never forget all his benefits.R.

It is the Lord who forgives all your sins,
who heals every one of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave,
who crowns you with mercy and compassion. R.

R. The Lord is compassionate and gracious.

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger and rich in mercy.
He does not treat us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our faults. R.

As far as the east is from the west,
so far from us does he remove our transgressions.
As a father has compassion on his children,
the Lord’s compassion is on those who fear him. R.



SECOND READING
“Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.”
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 15:45-49 )

Brethren: “The first man Adam became a living soul”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual which is first but the physical, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

The word of the Lord.



ALLELUIA John 13:34
Alleluia. A new commandment I give to you, says the Lord, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Alleluia.



GOSPEL
“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 6:27-38)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your cloak do not withhold your coat as well. Give to every one who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again. And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

The Gospel of the Lord.



Prayer of the Faithful
Be compassionate.

PRIEST: God our Father, when we were in sin, has compassion on us and sent his only Son to heal and restore us. Let us ask the Lord to make everyone aware of his compassion and love.



READER:

FOR THE CHURCH IN HER MINISTRY OF FORGIVENESS, pause may she always bind up hearts t hat are broken, forgive the sinner and restore him to grace, and always keep before our eyes the image of Christ, who died to save us all. pause Lord, hear us; and have mercy on us we pray Oh Lord.

FOR THOSE WHO COUNSEL THE EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED, pause may they bring to their work their skill and knowledge of human emotions, and restore those who find it difficult to cope with life. pause Lord, hear us; and have mercy on us we pray Oh Lord.

FOR THOSE WHO FIND IT HARD TO FORGIVE, pause may they have as their model Christ, who died for us, and, on the Cross, forgave those who crucified him.pause Lord, hear us; and have mercy on us we pray Oh Lord.

FOR COMPASSION TOWARDS YOUNG PEOPLE, pause may all parents, teachers and those in charge of the young be always sympathetic to them in their search for identity.pause Lord, hear us; and have mercy on us we pray Oh Lord.



We pray in silence for our own petition to God, our loving and compassionate Father.



PRIEST: Father, trusting in your compassion for us and not because of any merit on our part, we make our prayers to you. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.





Today's Reflection
One cannot but wonder at the life of David, ‘a man after God’s own heart’ (Act 13:22). Despite his misdeeds, David is a man who fears the Lord, has compassion, and respects ‘the Lord’s anointed’. Definitely, Saul is an enemy and David gets the opportunity to ‘nail him to the ground with one thrust of the spear’, but does not. Yes, David sees in Saul not just one bearing the images of the earthly one, but more, one bearing the image of the Heavenly one, because he is the Lord’s anointed’. He likewise believe that, since God is always merciful to us, who are we not to show mercy to others? Surely whatever we sow we will reap; if we sow mercy, we will also reap mercy, for the scripture says, ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall find mercy’. The golden rule is placed before us: ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you’. The Lord calls us to love even our enemies for he died out of love for us while we were still enemies; he calls us to make ourselves the neighbours of those farthest away and to love children and the poor as Christ himself’ (CCC 1825), we need to be men and women after God’s heart by our readiness to show mercy to our enemies always and by not seeking their destruction.



Personal Devotional
The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised, as some think, instead, he is patient with you, because he does not want anyone to be be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins. 2 Peter 3:9

- Pray for our hearts to be softened towards one another, so that we can give and receive forgiveness readily within our families, churches and local communities and our country Nigeria.

- Pray that God will help us to seek ways to bring reconciliation where there is estrangement, restoration where there is brokenness, and comfort where there is mourning.


Let Us Pray
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Amen.

23/02/2019

Saturday February 23, 2019
Week day (6)
Vestment:Red
Today’s Rosary: Joyful Mystery
St. Polycarp

FIRST READING
“By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God.”
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 11: 1 - 7)

Brethren: Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old received divine approval. By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he received approval as righteous, God bearing witness by accepting his gifts; he died, but through his faith he is still speaking. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was attested as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, took heed and constructed an ark for the saving of his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith.

The word of the Lord.



RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 145:2-3.4-5.10-11 (R. see 1b)
R. I will bless your name, O Lord, forever.

I will bless you day after day,
and praise your name forever and ever.
The Lord is great and highly to be praised;
his greatness cannot be measured. R.

Age to age shall proclaim your works,
shall declare your mighty deeds.
They will tell of your great glory and splendour,
and recount your wonderful works. R.

R. I will bless your name, O Lord, forever.

All your works shall thank you, O Lord,
and all your faithful ones bless you.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign,
and declare your mighty deeds. R.



ALLELUIA Mark 9:6
Alleluia. The heavens opened, and the Father’s voice was heard: “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” Alleluia.



GOSPEL
“He was transfigured before them.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 9:2-13)

At that time: Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves; and he was transfigured before them, and his garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were exceedingly afraid. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud. “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly looking around they no longer saw any one with them but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of man should have risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant. And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things; and how is it written of the Son of man, that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

The Gospel of the Lord.



Today's Reflection
On mount Tabor, God confirms that, what is most important in our relationship with Jesus is to ‘listen to him’ (Mark 9:7). Listening to Jesus and following his directions are key ingredients for us Christians. As peter proposes, we may build three tents on the mountain, giving one to the law, one to the prophets, and another to the fulfillment of the laws and the prophets but if we fail to listen to Jesus our tents will be useless. What will however make us listen to him and follow him is faith. This faith is described by the author of the letter to the Hebrews as ‘the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen’ (Heb 11:1). The examples of Abel, Enoch and Noah are placed before us as men who, though they did not understand, yet loved, trusted and obeyed God. Let us take Noah for example; he listens to God by building the ark and going into the ark at God’s command. He has no doubt as to what God was about to do; he has complete trust and obedience. Despite so much noise in our world today, we must keep making efforts to listen to God. The voice of the world may be so loud and pleasing but the voice of God even though it is still and gentle, will always be the best voice. Let us have firm faith in God, listen always to him and surely he will lead us on the right path.



Personal Devotional
"I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me" John 15:5

- Lord, do not make me use my position to work against your standards.

- Lord always remind me that cut off from you I am nothing.


Let Us Pray
O Lord, I am weak and broken, surrounded on all sides by corruption and perversion. Lord have mercy on me: protect me from my enemies who devour me, and guide me in the way of perfection. No matter what happens to me, whether it be an attack or a seduction, may my love for you protect me from falling into sin. May I live a holy life no matter what others do around me in Jesus name. Amen.

21/02/2019

Thursday February 21, 2019
Week day (6)
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: Luminous Mystery
Peter Domian

FIRST READING
“I set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”
A reading from the book of Genesis (Genesis 9: 1-13)

God bless Noah and sons and Said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every bird of the air, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea; into your hand they are delivered. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. For your lifeblood I will surely require a reckoning; of every beast I will require it and of man; of every man’s brother I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for God made man in his own image. And you, be fruitful and multiply, bring forth abundantly on the earth and multiply in it.” Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”

The word of the Lord.



RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 102: 16-18.19-20.29 and 22-23 (R. 20b)
R. The Lord looked down from heaven to the earth.

The nations shall fear the name of the Lord,
and all the earth’s kings your glory.
When the Lord shall build up Sion,
he will appear in all his glory.
Then he will turn to the prayers of the helpless ;
he will not despise their prayers. R.

Let this be written for ages to come,
that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord;
the Lord looked down from his holy place on high,
looked down from heaven to the earth,
to hear the groans of the prisoners,
and free those condemned to die. R.

R. The Lord looked down from heaven to the earth.

The children of your servants shall dwell untroubled,
and their descendants established before you.
May the name of the Lord be proclaimed in Sion,
and his praise in Jerusalem,
when peoples and kingdoms are gathered as one
to offer their worship to the Lord. R.



ALLELUIA John 6:63c.5Sc
Alleluia. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of eternal life. Alleluia.



GOSPEL
“You are the Christ. The Son of man must suffer many things.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 8:27-33)

At that time: Jesus went on with his disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” And he charged them to tell no one about him. And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men.”

The Gospel of the Lord.



Today's Reflection
To begin a new world order after the flood, God blessed the new humanity represented by Noah and his family in almost the same way as he blessed our first parents in the Book of Genesis (1:28-29). God tells Noah, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.’ God also makes a covenant with Noah, with the bow in the clouds to serve as sign of the covenant. This bow in the clouds is a sign of God’s bond of union with the new humanity; the old humanity having been washed away by the flood, just as the waters of baptism washes away our sins and makes us new creations. For us, therefore, the sign of the covenant is Christ himself and a firm understanding of his mission is very important. No wonder he asks his disciples their opinion of him after asking them the opinion of others. No wonder too that he rebukes Peter, calling him Satan even though he has earlier called him the ‘Rock’. The fact is that, to be the new people of God, we must be ready to know Christ and his mission of salvation which followed the path of suffering and death. Our knowledge of him will not be complete until we accept that he suffered, died and rose on the third day. Let us realize that without the cross, there can be no crown.



Today's Saint and Quote
St Peter Damian – February 21st
It is not sinners, but the wicked who should despair; it is not the magnitude of one’s crime, but contempt of God that dashes one’s hopes.



Personal Devotional
God did not send his son into the world to be its judge, but to be its saviour. John 3:17

- O God of infinite love and mercy, help me to live the life full of sincere love for you and my neighbour. Let my life reflect indeed that you are love.

- Pray for forgiveness for the many times you failed to show love.

Let Us Pray
O Lord I am very sorry that I have sinned against you, and by the help of your grace I will not sin again. Amen

Memory Verse: John 3:16