Celtic Odyssey

  Matthew 16.21-28 (NLT; adapted): [1] From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he’d suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He’d be killed, but on the third day he’d be raised from the dead. 22 But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You’re a dangerous trap to me. You’re seeing things merely from a human point of view and not from God’s.” 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you’ll save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anythi...

Matthew 16.13-20 (CEB [1] ; adapted): 13 Now when Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Human One is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” 15 He said, “And what about you? Who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter said, “You’re the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Then Jesus replied, “Happy are you, Simon son of Jonah, because no human has shown this to you. Rather my Abba who’s in heaven has shown you. 18 I tell you that you are Peter . And I’ll build my assembly on this rock. The gates of Hades won’t be able to stand against it. 19 I’ll give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Anything you fasten on earth will be fastened in heaven. Anything you loosen on earth will be loosened in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered the disciples not to tell anybody that he was the Messiah. Other readings: Exodus 1.8-2.10; Psalm 124; Romans 12.1-8 Gathering Prayer: ...