Daily Reflection for Thursday, August 04, 2022
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Thursday's readings at this link:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080422.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34
Responsorial: Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19
Gospel: Matthew 16:13-23
Our reflection on Thursday’s readings:
A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit. (Psalm 51:12)
Do you know someone or of someone who keeps getting up and trying again after they experience great hardships or challenges in their lives? No matter how difficult the circumstance is they get up, shake the dust off, and try life again. I know of someone I pray for often who has experienced such hardship in her life. And while some days are easier than others, she fixes her eyes on God and finds renewed strength from her faith to keep going.
In today’s gospel we read of Peter recognizing Jesus as the Christ, the Anointed One - the Incarnation—Peter, the one who denies Jesus three times; Peter, the one who Jesus admonishes for thinking as man does and not as God does; Peter, the one who recognizes Jesus is the Messiah, is given a great responsibility in today’s Gospel reading. Peter will be the rock upon which the Church will be built. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church. (Matthew 16:18)
So, we are talking about Peter here—A follower of Jesus who seems to fall and get up, fall and get up, and fall and get up again. There is a strength and gift that Peter has that keeps his eyes fixed on Jesus no matter how much he messes it up. Perhaps this is what Jesus saw as well.
I find such comfort and hope in today’s reading. I wonder if the Psalm for today was a prayer that Peter recited to give him strength in his quest to keep his eyes fixed on Jesus. A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit.
Peter, who denied Christ and yet continued to follow Him, has so much to teach me. My dear friend, who falls and gets up daily, has so much to teach me. Jesus who fell three times while carrying the cross has so much to teach me. I hear them all saying, keep your eyes fixed on God and keep getting up and trying life again.
May your eyes be fixed on Jesus today,
Margarita Solis Deal