Who am I, once and for all?

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For 7 August 2008, Thursday of 18th week, based on Mt 16:13-23

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, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of 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, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”


Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

About Ms. Marlene Laurendeau, O.P.

Marlene Laurendeau grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, being taught by the Dominican sisters of San Rafael; lived many years raising a family in Indiana; and in semi-retirement she and her husband moved to Maine, where he died five years ago. After the loss of their spouses and through CatholicMatch.com., she and her current spouse were united, and they enjoy commuting between California, Maine, and New Hampshire! Marlene is currently working on a masters degree in theological studies through the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Calif., and she serves her Maine parish as a Eucharistic minister and group facilitator.