On This Rock

Now 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. Matthew 13:16-20

On This Rock

Gracious God who loves all of us
the simple, brilliant and the foolish
those who think about themselves only
and those who give their lives away.

We like those very first disciples
have moments of great insight
times of refusal and opposition
yet you love us  all ever still.

The times we live in challenge us
the havoc in our world overwhelms
we are fickle and fumbling daily
yet you trust us with your mission.

Make us fierce and solid like Peter
help us to be disciples for our time
make us compassionate and loving
make us your church for these days. Amen