First Reading
Is 22, 19-23
Thus says the Lord of host to Shebna, the master of the palace. You will be deposed,
strongman. I will hurl you down from where you are. On that day I will summon my
servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah. I will clothe him with your robe, I will strengthen him
with your girdle, I will give him your authority, and he will be a father to the
inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the people of Judah. Upon his shoulder I will place the
key of the House of David: what he opens, no one shall shut; what he shuts, no one
shall open. I will fasten him like a peg in a sure spot, and he will be a seat of honour
in the house of his father.
Responsorial Psalm
I thank you, O Lord, with all my heart,
for you have heard the word of my lips.
I sing your praise in the presence of the gods.
I bow down towards your holy temple
I give thanks to your name,
for your love and faithfulness,
for your word which exceeds everything.
You answered me when I called;
you restored my soul and made me strong.
From above, the Lord watches
over the lowly; from afar,
he marks down the haughty.
How the Lord cares for me!
Your kindness, O Lord, endures forever.
Forsake not the work of your hands.
Second Reading
Rom 11,33-36
How deep are the riches, the wisdom and knowledge of God! His decisions cannot be
explained, nor his ways understood! Who has ever known God's thoughts? Who has
ever been his adviser? Who has given him something first, so that God had to repay
him? For everything comes from him, has been made by him and has to return to
him. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.
Gospel
Mt 16, 13-20
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "What do
people say of the Son of Man? Who do they say I am?" They said, "For some of them
you are John the Baptist, for others Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the prophets." Jesus
asked them, "But you, who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Messiah,
the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "It is well for you, Simon Barjona, for it is
not flesh or blood that has revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. And now I
say to you: You are Peter (or Rock) and on this rock I will build my Church; and never
will the powers of death overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of
heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and what you unbind on
earth shall be unbound in heaven." Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone
that he was the Christ.