Breaking the Word

Chair of St. Peter, Thursday – 22^nd February 2024 — Gospel: Matthew 16,13-19

Ultimately Love Triumphs

After his confession, Peter still needed to understand that Jesus would have to suffer humiliation and die to save the humanity. At first, Peter opposed this path. But over the years, he learnt that this was the only path to salvation and he himself would have to follow the same path. After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter was given a specific and important mission. On the shore of Galilee, Peter was invited to renew and deepen his love for Jesus and was given the task of caring for and nourishing the flock of the church. In the Acts of the Apostles, first half recounts Peter’s early ministry. He led the Church and other apostles to appoint a successor to Judas; he preached to the Jewish people gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost; he healed the sick and raised the dead to life; he incorporated the first Gentiles into the Church; he made decisions for the Church and finally went to Rome to care for the Church; he wrote letters to safeguard the Christian faith and ultimately died as a witness to Christ’s love.

Like Peter, we continue our search for Christ and recognize our sinfulness before the Lord. Joyfully we proclaim Jesus as the Son of God and yet struggle with the path of suffering. Like him, we believe, but often fail. Ultimately, Peter conquered and triumphed because of his love for Jesus.

1^st week in Lent, Wednesday – 21^st February 2024 – Jonah 3,1-10; Lk 11,29-32

Firm Belief in Salvation

The first reading from the book of Jonah presents the conversion of wicked Gentiles, as a response to God’s invitation to repentance.  In fact, the main message of the book is that God wants all people, not just Israel, to repent from their sins and receive His merciful salvation. The story of Jonah is full of irony and contrasts. Jonah experienced God’s mercy when he was saved from drowning by the fish and protected from the sun by a plant that miraculously grew in one night. And yet, Jonah was angry when God was merciful to the repentant Ninevites. Jonah’s announcement to repentance was accepted as God’s call by the leader and people of Nineveh. They believed and performed public penances, including fasting and wearing sackcloth, to avert the coming judgment of God upon the city. They worked out together for everyone’s salvation, because they had change of heart.  The people of Nineveh responded to prophet Jonah’s voice, even though they saw no signs or miracles. They simply believed the message of the prophet and feared God’s judgment.