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27 August 2017

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 22:19-23
Ps 137:1-3, 6,8.
Romans 11:33-36
The Gospel of Matthew 16:13-20

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said, ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’ Then he gave the disciples strict orders not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

Peter’s Confession of Faith

Truly, if Peter had not confessed that Christ was in a peculiar sense born of the Father, there would be no work of revelation; nor would he have been worthy of this blessing by confessing that Christ was one of many adopted sons … from none other comes to confess the Son than of the Father, and from none other to confess the Father than of the Son; so that from here, it is manifest that the Son is of the same substance, and to be worshipped together with the Father. Christ then proceeds to show that many would hereafter believe what Peter had now confessed, whence He adds, “So I now say to you: You are Peter.” That is, On this faith and confession I will build my Church. Showing that many should believe what Peter had confessed, raising his understanding, and making him shepherd. Then He speaks of another honour of Peter, when He adds, “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven;” as much as to say, As the Father has given you to know Me, I also will give you something, namely, the keys of the kingdom of heaven. See how Christ leads Peter to a high understanding concerning himself. These things that He here promises to give him, belong to God alone, namely to forgive sins, and to make the Church immoveable amidst the storms of so many persecutions and trials.
St. John Chrysostom, Catena Aurea

Saints of the week
Mon 28 Saint Augustine, Bishop, Doctor 
Tue 29 The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist
Thu 31 Saints Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus (Diocese of Jerusalem)
Sat 2 Memorial of the BVM

Psalter Week I

Next Sunday’s Readings
Jeremiah 20:7-9
Ps 62:2-6, 8-9
Romans 12:1-2
Matthew 16:21-27

The Beheading of St. John the Baptist

John dared to rebuke Herod the Tetrarch for his evil deeds, especially his public adultery with Herodias, the wife of his half-brother Philip. Herod, swayed by Herodias, did not put up with the Baptist’s rebukes and decided to punish him so John was imprisoned in the fortress of Machaerus, while angry Herodias waited for her chance to kill him. This chance came at a birthday feast given by Herod, where after a dance by Herodias’ daughter, the Tetrarch was so pleased that he promised to give the girl anything she desired and advised by her evil mother, she asked for St. John’s head on a dish, and an executioner was sent to kill the Baptist. This is how the “greatest amongst them that are born of women” was put to death, the prize awarded to a dancing girl, the toll exacted for an oath rashly taken and criminally kept (St. Augustine). The Forerunner of the Messiah, however, left a lasting impression on the Jewish people, for example, when Herod heard of the wonders wrought by Jesus, he thought it was John come back to life (Mt 14:1, 2). Also, not long after John’s martyrdom, Aretas, Herod’s rightful father-in-law, waged war against the Tetrarch and defeated him, many Jews saw this as Divine retribution for having killed John. Moreover, the Precursor’s influence did not die with him, as we read in Acts 18:25; 19:3, that some proselytes had received from Apollo and others the baptism of John at Ephesus. Even some early Christian writers tell us about a sect taking its name from John and holding only to his baptism.

St. John the Baptist, pray for us.

WELCOME BACK FR. CARLOS! After a long missionary trip to the U.S. and Peru, our parish priest is finally back. We give thanks to God for his safe return to Cyprus and keep praying, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother, that his visit there give fruits in this life and in the life everlasting. .

CARITAS PAPHOS currently needs:

• Nοn-perishable food to support approximately 40 households a week in the Paphos area.
• Computer whiz to manage crowdfunding appeals.
• Teachers for basic Greek.
• Transportation of students (lifts).

Prayers and donations always help. Contact Wendy Burdon 99 040294.

Archangel Michael Hospice: Volunteers needed in the areas of reception, nursing assistants and cafeteria. Contact Mona (99 494 140).

Mass Times HERE

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