August 8, 2013

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Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest 

Lectionary: 410

Reading 1NM 20:1-13

The whole congregation of the children of Israel

arrived in the desert of Zin in the first month,

and the people settled at Kadesh.

It was here that Miriam died, and here that she was buried.

Miriam, sister of Moses and Aaron, died at Kadesh.

As the community had no water,

they held a council against Moses and Aaron.

The people contended with Moses, exclaiming,

“Would that we too had perished with our kinsmen in the LORD’s presence!

Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this desert

where we and our livestock are dying?

Why did you lead us out of Egypt,

only to bring us to this wretched place

which has neither grain nor figs nor vines nor pomegranates?

Here there is not even water to drink!”

But Moses and Aaron went away from the assembly

to the entrance of the meeting tent, where they fell prostrate.

And again, the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron.  So Moses and Aaron turned to God.

Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them,

and the LORD said to Moses,

“Take your staff and assemble the community,

you and your brother Aaron,

and in their presence order the rock to yield its waters.

From the rock you shall bring forth water for the congregation

and their livestock to drink.”

So Moses took his staff from its place before the LORD, as he was ordered.

He and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock,

where he said to them, “Listen to me, you rebels!

Are we to bring water for you out of this rock?”

Then, raising his hand, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff,

and water gushed out in abundance for the people

and their livestock to drink.

God told them to assemble the people and bring water for them from out of "the rock".  Apparently, they knew which rock He was talking about because they assembled the people in front of a rock and then struck the rock in order that it would bring forth water.

But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

“Because you were not faithful to me

in showing forth my sanctity before the children of Israel,

you shall not lead this community into the land I will give them.”

I don't really understand what Moses and Aaron did wrong.  Either it was that they did not give God the credit?  Or that they struck the Rock too many times?  I don't know.  What I do know is that St. Paul says that  the rock is Christ:

1 Corinthians 10:4And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 

These are the waters of Meribah,

where the children of Israel contended against the LORD,

and where the LORD revealed his sanctity among them.

And it is at Meribah that God provided water from the Rock for the people of Israel.

Responsorial PsalmPS 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tested me;
they tested me though they had seen my works.”
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

It is difficult to believe how hard hearted the people of Israel were even after they had seen so many signs and wonders which God performed while leading them out of Egypt and through the desert.  Let us not fall in that trap.  We hear the voice of God everyday, in the Church.  Be humble then and obey the voice of God.

GospelMT 16:13-23

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi

Caesarea Philippi is a very special place.  On top of the rock was a Roman Temple dedicated to their gods.  At the foot of the rock is a hole so deep it was reputed to go all the way to Hades, the home of the dead.  Keep this in mind as you listen to Jesus' words to St. Peter.

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.”

Jesus asked His students, whom the people thought that He was.  They gave various answers, the people thought that Jesus was the reincarnation of John the Baptist, Elijah or one of the other Prophets.

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Then He asked them, pointedly, who they that that He was.  This time, they fell silent.  Except for St. Peter.  He spoke up immediately!

Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

He said, "You are the Messiah for whom we've been waiting.  He who is to save the world.  God incarnate."

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 Jesus in turn said to St. Peter, "You could not have known this if my Father in heaven had not revealed this to you.  Therefore, I want you to know that you are blessed. 

And so I say to you, you are Peter,

Further, I name you Rock.

and upon this rock I will build my Church,

Because of your rocklike faith, I will build my Church upon you, the way this Roman temple is built upon this mountain.

and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

And the Church which I build will storm the doors of hell and hades and give eternal life to all whom she baptizes and persevere in well doing.

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.”

And I will give you, Peter, the keys to heaven.  Whom you save will be saved.  Whom you do not save will not be saved.  What you decree will be obeyed on earth and in heaven.  Because your voice will be the voice of God on earth.

Then he strictly ordered his disciples
to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Then He commanded the students not to mention to anyone that He is the Messiah, the Son of God.

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.

From then on, Jesus began to teach that He would suffer and die for the salvation of man.

Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
“God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.”
He turned and said to Peter,
“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

St. Peter, in His love for Christ, could not bear to think of His death.  But Jesus informed him that he was not thinking in a Godly manner.  For Jesus must obey the will of His Father at any cost.