1st Scripture Reading – Psalm 138

Thanksgiving and Praise

¹ I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;

before the gods I sing your praise;

² I bow down toward your holy temple

and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,

for you have exalted your name and your word

above everything.

³ On the day I called, you answered me;

you increased my strength of soul.

⁴ All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord,

for they have heard the words of your mouth.

⁵ They shall sing of the ways of the Lord,

for great is the glory of the Lord.

⁶ For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,

but the haughty he perceives from far away.

⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies;

you stretch out your hand,

and your right hand delivers me.

⁸ The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;

your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

Do not forsake the work of your hands.

2nd Scripture Reading – Matthew 16:13-20

Peter’s Declaration about Jesus

¹³ Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ And they said, “Some say John the Baptist but others Elijah and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ 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.” ²⁰ Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.