Cycle A
Good News A31a
Feast of St. Peter and
Matthew 16:13-19
New American Bible
"Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church”
In
today’s Gospel Jesus said, “You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my
church. His church started with twelve apostles. Now there are approximately 2
billion Christians in the world. There are approximately 6 billion people
living in the world today. Not everyone in the world knows about Christ yet.
Not everyone believes in Jesus Christ yet. God wants you to spread the word
about Jesus to others.
One
way to let others know about the love Jesus has for them is by your example.
Show others that you love God above all things and your neighbor as yourself.
This is a good testimony. When people find out what church you go to, they will
want to go there, too. When you are praying, they will want you to ask your God
to help them, too. When you treat them with kindness, they will treat others
with kindness, too.
When
you share what you have with your church and others, you are sharing with Jesus
Christ. He will reward you. When you help fill the needs of your family and
friends, Jesus provides for your needs, too. When you give clothing that you have
outgrown to the needy, he gives your parents enough money to get clothing for
you. Goodwill Stores sell items that are donated to
them. They use the money from these sales to give job training to handicapped
people. The Kidney Foundation uses money from the sale of items donated to them
to provide kidney transplants to people who need them. Many homeless shelters
give food, shelter, and job training for people who find themselves without a
home. Choose how you want to help others.
Say the “Our Father” and
tell Jesus that you are proud to be a member of his church. Tell him how you
are going to spread the word about Jesus. Pray that more people believe in Jesus Christ
each day.
“Our Father, who art in Heaven,
Hallowed
be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy
will be done,
On
earth as it is in heaven.
Give
us this day, our daily bread.
And
forgive us our trespasses,
As
we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.”
Copyright ©2008
Joan Y. Edwards. All rights reserved. www.joanyedwards.com/