Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection August 07, 2025
Thursday – 18th Week in Ordinary Time
07th August 2025 (Thursday)
Psalter: Week 2
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Numbers 20:1-13
In those days: the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. And Miriam died there and was buried there. Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.” Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them, and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.” And Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as he commanded him. Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the Lord, and through them he showed himself holy.
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 R.(8)
R/. O that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel: Matthew 16:13-23
At that time: When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Thursday – 18th Week in Ordinary Time
Main Point: True faith is tested for its solidity by its fidelity even amidst all the frustrating experiences. It remains firm like a rock against all the assaults of evil, because it is built on Christ
1. The gospel passage, Matthew 16. 13-23 revolves around the themes of church and faith. In the gospel, Jesus entrusts the care and guidance of the church to Peter, the head of the apostles. He announces, On this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
2. Jesus also authorises and empowers Peter, saying, I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be lost in heaven.
3. The rock here does not refer so much to the individual Peter. Rather, it refers to the faith and the authority of the head of the community of the church. Built on such a solid apostolic foundation, the church remains firm. Her role is tremendous, that is, to be the holder of the keys of the kingdom, to be a dispenser of salvation. But this has no guarantee of her unfailing stability or fidelity.
4. Surely, there will be times without water as for the people of Israel in the wilderness. There will be times of frustration and rebellion. There will be relishing of the old ways of sin. As we see in the gospel, even from among the men in the church, there will be hindrances, not being on the side of God.
5. This is what we see dramatically in the case of Peter. When Peter confesses, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus highly praises him, saying, Blessed are you! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
6. But, he rebukes the same Peter when he fails to understand God’s plan of the way of the cross, saying, Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me, for you are not on the side of God, but of men.
7. All these are part of the journey of the church. But one thing is sure: the powers of death shall not prevail against it. This can imply two things: one, no evil powers can overpower and subdue it, even though they will attack and torment it.
8. Second, the church will not die, it will endure through the ages. The church will traverse through all the trying times as the ultimate victor. Meanwhile, she has to continue to be the rock that issues water to the thirsty and dried up.
My Practice: The greatest secret for the continuity and stability of the church in its faith and mission is very simple: a personal discovery of Who is Jesus for me? and experience him as the Christ, the Saviour, the Son of the living God
