Collect:

Grant, we pray, almighty God
that no tempest may disturb us,
for you have set us fast
on the rock of the Apostle Peter's confession of faith.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,x`
one God, for ever and ever.

Today's Readings:
1 Peter 5:1-4; Psalm 23:1-3a, 4, 5, 6; Matthew 16:13-19

Daily Meditation:
The Journey Begins

There are so many lessons for our journey in this prayer. 
It starts with God's inspiration. 
From the beginning, God breathed life in us
the Holy Spirit guides us and
St. Peter and his successors have led us as a Church.
The grace for all we are about to do comes from God. 
Today we pray to be open to it. 
Today we also acknowledge that for us to what we need to do these six weeks,
we need God's continuing help. 
Each day, with every prayer, every sacrifice, every act of generosity
we will need help, which can only come from God. 
And, finally, we need God's guidance to persevere to the end. 
There will be tough choices, not only between good and evil,
but choices about what is the greater good. 
We may even be called to do something quite heroic and self-sacrificing. 
A wonderful prayer.  Easy to remember, even memorize. 
It is possible to say it every day.

Today's Daily Reflection

 

Intercessions:
Beloved friends, we have inherited heaven along with the apostles. Let us give thanks to the Father for all of his gifts:
  The company of apostles praises you, O Lord.

Praise be to you Lord for the banquet of Christ's body and blood given to us through the apostles,
 - which refreshes us and gives us life.
The company of apostles praises you, O Lord.
Praise be to you, Lord, for the feast of your word preparde for us by the apostles,
 - giving us light and joy.
The company of apostles praises you, O Lord.
Praise be to you, Lord, for your holy Church, founded on the apostles,
 - where we are gathered together in your community.
The company of apostles praises you, O Lord.
Praise be to you, Lord, for the cleansing power of baptism
and penance that you have entrusted to your apostles,
 - through which we are cleansed of our sins.
The company of apostles praises you, O Lord.

Closing Prayer:
Lord,
Like Peter, I am sometimes so afraid,
yet you made him the rock of your Church.

I long to be closer to you.
Help me to remember that nothing is important in my life
unless it glorifies you in some way.
It's so easy to get caught up in the day to day of my life and keep saying,
"Tomorrow, I will spend more time in prayer,"
but now my longing meets your love and I want to do it now. 
Help me to rely on you for help.
The prayer asks you that I reach perfection.
Please, Lord, remind me that "perfection"
isn't the crazy, "successful" way I try to live my life,
but a perfection of my most authentic, real self.
My "perfection" might be holding my many flaws in my open hands,
asking you to help me accept them.
Heal me, Lord, and help me to find you in the darkness of my life. 
Let me reach out in this darkness and feel your hand and love there to guide me.