Daily Readings for August 27, 2017

1ST READING

Shebna has angered the Lord by failing to serve the people well, and so the Lord will have him removed and replaced. If only it was this simple to replace our corrupt leaders in the Church and society today. The Scriptures make it clear that while they may be able to avoid judgment in this life, they certainly will not be before God.

Isaiah 22:15, 19-23

15 Thus says the Lord to Shebna, master of the palace: 19 “I will thrust you from your office and pull you down from your station. 20 On that day I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah; 21 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. 22 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. 23 I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot, to be a place of honor for his family.”

P S A L M  

Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8

R: Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.

1 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; 2 I will worship at your holy temple. (R) I will give thanks to your name, because of your kindness and your truth: 3 When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me. (R) 6 The Lord is exalted, yet the lowly he sees, and the proud he knows from afar. 8 Your kindness, O Lord, endures forever; forsake not the work of your hands. (R)

  

2ND READING

Paul finally admits that he is unable to find a watertight reason for the Jewish failure to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. It is beyond his and anyone’s powers of deduction to think this through. God simply has to deal with their hardness of heart as He does with all of us at one time or another. The Jews’ faithlessness is not the cause of the Gospel going to the Gentiles — that was part of God’s plan anyway. Let us simply follow His will and leave to God the strategy of the Gospel proclamation.

Romans 11:33-36

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor? 35 Or who has given him anything that he may be repaid? 36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

GOSPEL

This text is interesting to read in Greek as it clearly states that Jesus singles out Peter when he talks of the binding and loosing powers. Peter is the generally-accepted leader of the Apostles and this is why we consider him to be the first Pope. The Church is unashamedly hierarchical; it has to be if authority is going to work and be exercised well. Yes, there have been some incredibly corrupt popes as they are all sinners like you and me — there is no “magical” cure from sin when you are elected pope. Let us pray for our present Pope that he will be a good pastor and leader of the People of God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 16:13-20

13 Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 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. 18 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. 19 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.” 20 Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.