Daily Mass Readings – Thursday, 17 February 2028

1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with respect of persons.

2 For if there shall come into your assembly a man having a golden ring, in fine apparel, and there shall come in also a poor man in mean attire,

3 And you have respect to him that is clothed with the fine apparel, and shall say to him: Sit thou here well; but say to the poor man: Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool:

4 Do you not judge within yourselves, and are become judges of unjust thoughts?

5 Hearken, my dearest brethren: hath not God chosen the poor in this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him?

6 But you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you by might? and do not they draw you before the judgment seats?

7 Do not they blaspheme the good name that is invoked upon you?

8 If then you fulfill the royal law, according to the scriptures, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; you do well.

9 But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, being reproved by the law as transgressors.

R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

2 I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall be always in my mouth.

3 In the Lord shall my soul be praised: let the meek hear and rejoice.

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

4 O magnify the Lord with me; and let us extol his name together.

5 I sought the Lord, and he heard me; and he delivered me from all my troubles.

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

6 Come ye to him and be enlightened: and your faces shall not be confounded.

7 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him: and saved him out of all his troubles.

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

63c, 68c Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi. And in the way, he asked his disciples, saying to them: Whom do men say that I am?

28 Who answered him, saying: John the Baptist; but some Elias, and others as one of the prophets.

29 Then he saith to them: But whom do you say that I am? Peter answering said to him: Thou art the Christ.

30 And he strictly charged them that they should not tell any man of him.

31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the ancients and by the high priests, and the scribes, and be killed: and after three days rise again.

32 And he spoke the word openly. And Peter taking him, began to rebuke him.

33 Who turning about and seeing his disciples, threatened Peter, saying: Go behind me, Satan, because thou savorest not the things that are of God, but that are of men.

Peter rightly confesses that Jesus is the Christ, yet he still has to learn what kind of Christ Jesus is. The Messiah will suffer, be rejected, die, and rise again. Peter’s rebuke reveals how easily faith can be shaped by human expectations—by honor, power, and success—rather than by the things of God.

That same temptation appears in the warning against showing favoritism to the rich while humiliating the poor. The Gospel cannot be separated from the way we regard people who have little status or influence. God hears the cry of the poor, and he calls his people to love their neighbor without judging by appearance. To follow Christ is to let his cross correct our values: greatness is found in faithful love, and honor is not measured by clothing, wealth, or position. Today, Christ’s words can lead us to notice whom we overlook, to offer genuine welcome, and to resist the quiet judgments that divide us. His words are spirit and life because they teach us to see others with the mercy of God.

Lord Jesus Christ, deepen in me the faith that Peter confessed, and purify it of every worldly expectation. Teach me to recognize your presence in those who are poor, disregarded, or easily overlooked. Guard me from judging people by appearance, comfort, or influence. Give me courage to follow you along the way of the cross, trusting that your suffering leads to life. May your words become spirit and life within me, so that my welcome, choices, and relationships reflect your love for every person. Hear the cry of the poor through the compassion of your Church. Amen.