♪ [Piano music] ♪

The following presentation is made possible by the generosity of the viewers of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in Chicago.

Good morning and welcome to Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. Today we celebrate the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time. My name is Dan Riley. I am joined by Tom McNamara and Joyce McQuiggin. And our celebrant is Father James Wallace.

♪ The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ our Lord. ♪
♪ She is His new creation by water and the world. ♪
♪ From heaven He came and sought her ♪
♪ To be His holy bride. ♪
♪ With His own blood He bought her ♪
♪ And for her life He died. ♪

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
-Amen.

The Lord be with you.
-And with your spirit.

Good morning everyone. Welcome from Mass here at Mercy Home. We’re delighted that you could be with us to worship God together, to pray, to receive grace as a body of Christ. So let us prepare ourselves to celebrate these sacred mysteries by calling to mind our sins.

I confess to almighty God and to you my brothers and sisters that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do. Through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I ask blessed Mary ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and to you my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
-Amen.

Lord have mercy.
-Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
-Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
-Lord have mercy.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ Glory to God in the highest ♪
♪ And on earth peace to people of good will. ♪
♪ Glory to God in the highest ♪
♪ And on earth peace to people of good will. ♪

Let us pray. O God who caused the minds of the faithful to unite in a single purpose, grant your people to love what you command and to desire what you promise, that amid the uncertainties of this world our hearts may be fixed on that place where true gladness is found. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.
-Amen.

A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah.

Thus says the Lord to Shebna, master of the palace, I will thrust you from your office and pull you down from your station. On that day I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Haikea. I will clothe him with your robe and gird him with your sash and give over to him your authority. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the House of Judah. I will place the key of the House of David on Eliakim’s shoulder. When he opens, no one shall shut. When he shuts, no one shall open. I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot to be a place of honor for his family.

The word of the Lord.
-Thanks be to God.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ Lord, your love is eternal. ♪
♪ Do not forsake the work of your hands. ♪
♪ Lord, your love is eternal. ♪
♪ Do not forsake the work of your hands. ♪
♪ I thank you, Lord, with all my heart. ♪
♪ You have heard the words of my mouth. ♪
♪ In the presence of the angels I praise you. ♪
♪ I bow down toward your holy temple. ♪
♪ Lord, your love is eternal. ♪
♪ Do not forsake the work of your hands. ♪

A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans.

O, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God, how inscrutable are His judgments and how unsearchable His ways. For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor, or who has given the Lord anything that He may be repaid? For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.

The word of the Lord.
-Thanks be to God.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ♪
♪ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ♪
♪ You are Peter, ♪
♪ And upon this rock I will build my Church. ♪
♪ And the gates of the netherworld ♪
♪ Shall not prevail against it. ♪
♪ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ♪

The Lord be with you.
-And with your spirit.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
-Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then He strictly ordered His disciples to tell no one that He was the Christ.

The Gospel of the Lord.
-Praise to you, Lord, Jesus Christ.

Okay, famous passage, St. Peter receiving the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, the foundation of the Church. But let’s give a little context with our first reading – Isaiah, some history behind why Christ chose to give Peter keys and not some other item or object or whatever.

Ancient Israel was of course a city that was really in the middle of the nation of Israel, more or less. It was inland. Israel, as you all kind of picture a map in your mind, Israel was on the Mediterranean coast, on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea. And the Sea of Galilee, of course, was a fresh body of water, more or less. And then you had the Dead Sea just south of it, and the Jordan River connecting the two bodies of water. But then Jerusalem is right in the middle of the land, which is kind of unusual for a city to be built inland, especially an ancient city. You go to most cities, they’re built on rivers or on the coast. It’s just easy for commerce that way. Go to London or Paris or Chicago, wherever it might be, New York.

So why inland? Why this random spot? And it’s like kind of on a plateau in the desert also, hard to get to, not a lot of resources. Well, because this was the spot where Mount Moriah was, and that’s where Abraham was called to sacrifice Isaac. So it’s kind of a symbolic location. Abraham of course is the father of the nation of Israel. Now there is a spring of water, however, that does feed this mountain plateau, which is how they’re able to build walls and kind of sustain themselves throughout the various sieges that Israel faces.

But the steward of the Kingdom of Israel, so not the king of Israel, but the steward, kind of like his right-hand man, had a difficult task, but an important one, of ensuring that Israel could be a functioning city, that it could get food and water and that the walls were kept up and no foreign invaders could come in.

So the steward in the time of Isaiah the Prophet was a guy named Shebnub. And the steward of Israel was given kind of a lapel pen, if you will, keys that were put on his cloak. These are the keys of the steward of Israel, sort of like the Chancellor of England was given that sort of that sash, – that metallic sash around his chest – in the time of like St. Thomas More, Henry VIII and whatnot.

Anyway, Shebnub, who’s the steward of Israel, instead of taking care of the city of Jerusalem and diverting funds to keep up the wall, he builds a giant monument to himself on this other hillside outside of the city of Jerusalem. So he wastes their money. And so Isaiah is going to Shebnub saying, “Shebnub, you’re going to lose your job. The keys are going to be taken away from you, given to Heil Kye, given to another steward who’s going to properly take care of the city of the kingdom.”

Now, that guy, Shebnub’s successor did okay, but the stewards weren’t really great. And so basically what Jesus is saying, okay, last, I’m going to take the keys away finally, and I’m giving them at last to a rightful steward to St. Peter. And the keys are never going to be taken away from him. Or Peter is going to have the keys, and in a way he’s going to be given copies of the keys, and he’s going to give them to his successors, the Roman Pontiffs, the Popes.

So the Church is entrusted with the new city of Jerusalem, taking care of the Kingdom of Heaven, taking care of us. So yes, we can be properly fed and watered spiritually, that we can know Jesus Christ, and that we can work together as a community so that no one is left behind, no one is suffering. So the Church is here for us, and we need the Church, not just as this, you know, institution that keeps the rules, like the major league baseball rules commissioner, or whatever. The Church is a living body, Christ’s body, meant to keep us in this city. And when we’re in this city together, we’re flourishing. We’re receiving the word of God, helping one another, and ultimately, the path to heaven is being prepared for us.

So we pray for our Holy Father this day. We pray for all members of our Church, and especially for peace and unity in our Church and in our world. Amen.

So my dear brothers and sisters, we now profess our faith together:

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father. Through Him all things are made. For us men and for our salvation, He came down from heaven. And by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, He suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Trusting in our merciful God, we now pray for all the needs we have in our Church and in our world and in the silence of our hearts. Our response to each prayer will be, “Lord, hear our prayer.”

For all Church leaders who spread the Gospel throughout the world, may the Lord’s unconditional love and mercy fill the hearts of all who hear their words. We pray to the Lord.
-Lord, hear our prayer.

For our loved ones who have been called home to the Lord, may they find peace in the eternal kingdom. We pray to the Lord.
-Lord, hear our prayer.

For the children of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, may they find the strength to continue their healing process. We pray to the Lord.
-Lord, hear our prayer.

For those whose hearts have turned away from their faith, may they once again know the comfort and peace of the Lord’s presence. We pray to the Lord.
-Lord, hear our prayer.

Good and gracious God, we surrender our hearts into your hands this day and ask that you answer now these prayers. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ [Piano music continues] ♪

Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
-May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of His name, for our good and the good of all His holy Church.

O Lord, who gained for yourself a people by adoption through the one sacrifice offered once for all, bestow graciously on us, we pray, the gifts of unity and peace in your Church. Through Christ our Lord.
-Amen.

The Lord be with you.
-And with your spirit.
Lift up your hearts.
-We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
-It is right and just.

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere, to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God. For in you we live and move and have our being, and while in this body we not only experience the daily effects of your care, but even now possess the pledge of life eternal. For having received the firstfruits of the Spirit through whom you raised up Jesus from the dead, we hope for an everlasting share in the paschal mystery. And so with all the angels we praise you as in joyful celebration we acclaim.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of hosts, ♪
♪ Heaven and earth are full of your glory. ♪
♪ Hosanna in the highest. ♪
♪ Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. ♪
♪ Hosanna in the highest. ♪

You are indeed holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness. Make holy, therefore, these gifts we pray, by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall, so that they may become for us the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

At the time He was betrayed and entered willingly into His passion, He took bread and giving thanks, broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you.” In a similar way, when supper was ended, He took the chalice and once more giving thanks, He gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.”

The mystery of faith.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ When we eat this bread and drink this cup, ♪
♪ We proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again. ♪

Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of His death and resurrection, we offer you, Lord, the bread of life and the chalice of salvation, giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you. Humbly we pray that partaking of the body and blood of Christ, we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.

Remember, Lord, your Church spread throughout the world and bring her to the fullness of charity together with Leo, our Pope, and Blas…, our bishop, and all the clergy. Remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection and all who have died in your mercy. Welcome them into the light of your face. Have mercy on us all, we pray, that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, blessed Joseph, her spouse, with the blessed Apostles and all the Saints who have pleased you throughout the ages, we may merit to be co-heirs to eternal life and may praise and glorify you through your Son, Jesus Christ. Through Him and with Him and in Him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours forever and ever.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ Amen, amen, amen. ♪

At the Savior’s command formed by divine teaching we dare to say:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress. As we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, for the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.

Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles, “Peace I leave you, my peace I give you,” look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will, who live and reign forever and ever.
Amen.

May the peace of the Lord, be with you always.
-And with your spirit.

Let us offer each other a sign of peace. Brothers and sisters, peace be with you.

On behalf of Father Scott Donahue and everyone here at Mercy Home, may you know of God’s love in your life, and know of our gratitude for you, for all your support of Mercy Home and the great institution, and all the important stuff we do here, especially for the young children here in our area. We pray for you and your intentions. We hold them in our hearts as we celebrate this Mass. May God’s peace go with you the rest of this day.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, ♪
♪ Have mercy on us. ♪
♪ Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, ♪
♪ Have mercy on us. ♪
♪ Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, ♪
♪ Grant us peace. ♪

Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
-Lord, I’m not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

♪ [Piano music] ♪

For those of you at home, please turn to page six in your TV Mass guide and join in singing our communion song, “Be Not Afraid.”

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ You shall cross the barren desert, ♪
♪ But you shall not die of thirst. ♪
♪ You shall wander far in safety, ♪
♪ Though you do not know the way. ♪
♪ You shall speak your words in foreign lands, ♪
♪ And all will understand. ♪
♪ You shall see the face of God and live. ♪
♪ Be not afraid. ♪
♪ I go before you always. ♪
♪ Come, follow me, and I will give you rest. ♪

And now, friends, I invite you to join me in our prayer for the children of Mercy Home.

Our Lady of Mercy, we pray that you will guide, protect, and bless all boys and girls who this day have a home called Mercy. May they find the Father’s mercy as we offer them our hearts in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. May they seek God’s mercy in action through our love, prayers, and sacrifices. And so, we pray.

Complete within us, O Lord, we pray, the healing work of your mercy and graciously perfect and sustain us so that all things we may please you through Christ our Lord.
-Amen.

Again, thank you for being with us. Our prayers for you this week. Have a great rest of your week and a great rest of your Sunday.

The Lord be with you.
-And with your spirit.

Bow your heads and pray for God’s blessing.

May almighty God bless you, for He has made you steadfast in St. Peter’s saving confession, and through it has set you on the solid rock of the Church’s faith. Having instructed you by the tireless preaching of St. Paul, may God teach you constantly by his example to win brothers and sisters for Christ. So that by the keys of St. Peter and the words of St. Paul, and by the support of their intercession, God may bring us happily to that homeland that Peter attained on a cross in Paul by the blade of a sword.
-Amen.

And may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit come down on you all and remain with you forever.
-Amen.

Go forth, the Mass is ended.
-Thanks be to God.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ Lord, whose love in humble service ♪
♪ Bore the weight of human need, ♪
♪ Who upon the cross forsaken ♪
♪ Offered mercy’s perfect deed, ♪
♪ We your servants bring the worship, ♪
♪ Not a voice alone but heart. ♪
♪ Consecrating to your purpose ♪
♪ Every gift that you impart, ♪
♪ As we worship grant us vision ♪
♪ Till your love’s revealing light… ♪

Hello, my friends. As you know, as I know, this TV ministry at Mercy Home is so important. It allows us to gather wherever you may be to participate in the prayer of the Church. It allows us to pray for one another and how important it is. It allows you and me to pray for the children here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. We’re nourished by our presence together and by the celebration of the Eucharist.

I just want to take this opportunity to thank you so very much for the ways in which you support this Mass here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. Please consider doing that going forward as well. May God bless you and your family and your friends for all you do for the TV Mass at Mercy Home and for our children.

The music for the broadcast of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home is generously provided by GIA Publications Incorporated and its World Library Publications division.

♪ [Piano music] ♪

The following presentation is made possible by the generosity of the viewers of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in Chicago.

Good morning and welcome to Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. Today we celebrate the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time. My name is Dan Riley. I am joined by Tom McNamara and Joyce McQuiggin. And our celebrant is Father James Wallace.

♪ The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ our Lord. ♪
♪ She is His new creation by water and the world. ♪
♪ From heaven He came and sought her ♪
♪ To be His holy bride. ♪
♪ With His own blood He bought her ♪
♪ And for her life He died. ♪

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
-Amen.

The Lord be with you.
-And with your spirit.

Good morning everyone. Welcome from Mass here at Mercy Home. We’re delighted that you could be with us to worship God together, to pray, to receive grace as a body of Christ. So let us prepare ourselves to celebrate these sacred mysteries by calling to mind our sins.

I confess to almighty God and to you my brothers and sisters that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do. Through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I ask blessed Mary ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and to you my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
-Amen.

Lord have mercy.
-Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
-Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
-Lord have mercy.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ Glory to God in the highest ♪
♪ And on earth peace to people of good will. ♪
♪ Glory to God in the highest ♪
♪ And on earth peace to people of good will. ♪

Let us pray. O God who caused the minds of the faithful to unite in a single purpose, grant your people to love what you command and to desire what you promise, that amid the uncertainties of this world our hearts may be fixed on that place where true gladness is found. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.
-Amen.

A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah.

Thus says the Lord to Shebna, master of the palace, I will thrust you from your office and pull you down from your station. On that day I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Haikea. I will clothe him with your robe and gird him with your sash and give over to him your authority. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the House of Judah. I will place the key of the House of David on Eliakim’s shoulder. When he opens, no one shall shut. When he shuts, no one shall open. I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot to be a place of honor for his family.

The word of the Lord.
-Thanks be to God.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ Lord, your love is eternal. ♪
♪ Do not forsake the work of your hands. ♪
♪ Lord, your love is eternal. ♪
♪ Do not forsake the work of your hands. ♪
♪ I thank you, Lord, with all my heart. ♪
♪ You have heard the words of my mouth. ♪
♪ In the presence of the angels I praise you. ♪
♪ I bow down toward your holy temple. ♪
♪ Lord, your love is eternal. ♪
♪ Do not forsake the work of your hands. ♪

A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans.

O, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God, how inscrutable are His judgments and how unsearchable His ways. For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor, or who has given the Lord anything that He may be repaid? For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.

The word of the Lord.
-Thanks be to God.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ♪
♪ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ♪
♪ You are Peter, ♪
♪ And upon this rock I will build my Church. ♪
♪ And the gates of the netherworld ♪
♪ Shall not prevail against it. ♪
♪ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ♪

The Lord be with you.
-And with your spirit.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
-Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then He strictly ordered His disciples to tell no one that He was the Christ.

The Gospel of the Lord.
-Praise to you, Lord, Jesus Christ.

Okay, famous passage, St. Peter receiving the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, the foundation of the Church. But let’s give a little context with our first reading – Isaiah, some history behind why Christ chose to give Peter keys and not some other item or object or whatever.

Ancient Israel was of course a city that was really in the middle of the nation of Israel, more or less. It was inland. Israel, as you all kind of picture a map in your mind, Israel was on the Mediterranean coast, on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea. And the Sea of Galilee, of course, was a fresh body of water, more or less. And then you had the Dead Sea just south of it, and the Jordan River connecting the two bodies of water. But then Jerusalem is right in the middle of the land, which is kind of unusual for a city to be built inland, especially an ancient city. You go to most cities, they’re built on rivers or on the coast. It’s just easy for commerce that way. Go to London or Paris or Chicago, wherever it might be, New York.

So why inland? Why this random spot? And it’s like kind of on a plateau in the desert also, hard to get to, not a lot of resources. Well, because this was the spot where Mount Moriah was, and that’s where Abraham was called to sacrifice Isaac. So it’s kind of a symbolic location. Abraham of course is the father of the nation of Israel. Now there is a spring of water, however, that does feed this mountain plateau, which is how they’re able to build walls and kind of sustain themselves throughout the various sieges that Israel faces.

But the steward of the Kingdom of Israel, so not the king of Israel, but the steward, kind of like his right-hand man, had a difficult task, but an important one, of ensuring that Israel could be a functioning city, that it could get food and water and that the walls were kept up and no foreign invaders could come in.

So the steward in the time of Isaiah the Prophet was a guy named Shebnub. And the steward of Israel was given kind of a lapel pen, if you will, keys that were put on his cloak. These are the keys of the steward of Israel, sort of like the Chancellor of England was given that sort of that sash, – that metallic sash around his chest – in the time of like St. Thomas More, Henry VIII and whatnot.

Anyway, Shebnub, who’s the steward of Israel, instead of taking care of the city of Jerusalem and diverting funds to keep up the wall, he builds a giant monument to himself on this other hillside outside of the city of Jerusalem. So he wastes their money. And so Isaiah is going to Shebnub saying, “Shebnub, you’re going to lose your job. The keys are going to be taken away from you, given to Heil Kye, given to another steward who’s going to properly take care of the city of the kingdom.”

Now, that guy, Shebnub’s successor did okay, but the stewards weren’t really great. And so basically what Jesus is saying, okay, last, I’m going to take the keys away finally, and I’m giving them at last to a rightful steward to St. Peter. And the keys are never going to be taken away from him. Or Peter is going to have the keys, and in a way he’s going to be given copies of the keys, and he’s going to give them to his successors, the Roman Pontiffs, the Popes.

So the Church is entrusted with the new city of Jerusalem, taking care of the Kingdom of Heaven, taking care of us. So yes, we can be properly fed and watered spiritually, that we can know Jesus Christ, and that we can work together as a community so that no one is left behind, no one is suffering. So the Church is here for us, and we need the Church, not just as this, you know, institution that keeps the rules, like the major league baseball rules commissioner, or whatever. The Church is a living body, Christ’s body, meant to keep us in this city. And when we’re in this city together, we’re flourishing. We’re receiving the word of God, helping one another, and ultimately, the path to heaven is being prepared for us.

So we pray for our Holy Father this day. We pray for all members of our Church, and especially for peace and unity in our Church and in our world. Amen.

So my dear brothers and sisters, we now profess our faith together:

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father. Through Him all things are made. For us men and for our salvation, He came down from heaven. And by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, He suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Trusting in our merciful God, we now pray for all the needs we have in our Church and in our world and in the silence of our hearts. Our response to each prayer will be, “Lord, hear our prayer.”

For all Church leaders who spread the Gospel throughout the world, may the Lord’s unconditional love and mercy fill the hearts of all who hear their words. We pray to the Lord.
-Lord, hear our prayer.

For our loved ones who have been called home to the Lord, may they find peace in the eternal kingdom. We pray to the Lord.
-Lord, hear our prayer.

For the children of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, may they find the strength to continue their healing process. We pray to the Lord.
-Lord, hear our prayer.

For those whose hearts have turned away from their faith, may they once again know the comfort and peace of the Lord’s presence. We pray to the Lord.
-Lord, hear our prayer.

Good and gracious God, we surrender our hearts into your hands this day and ask that you answer now these prayers. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ [Piano music continues] ♪

Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
-May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of His name, for our good and the good of all His holy Church.

O Lord, who gained for yourself a people by adoption through the one sacrifice offered once for all, bestow graciously on us, we pray, the gifts of unity and peace in your Church. Through Christ our Lord.
-Amen.

The Lord be with you.
-And with your spirit.
Lift up your hearts.
-We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
-It is right and just.

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere, to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God. For in you we live and move and have our being, and while in this body we not only experience the daily effects of your care, but even now possess the pledge of life eternal. For having received the firstfruits of the Spirit through whom you raised up Jesus from the dead, we hope for an everlasting share in the paschal mystery. And so with all the angels we praise you as in joyful celebration we acclaim.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of hosts, ♪
♪ Heaven and earth are full of your glory. ♪
♪ Hosanna in the highest. ♪
♪ Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. ♪
♪ Hosanna in the highest. ♪

You are indeed holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness. Make holy, therefore, these gifts we pray, by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall, so that they may become for us the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

At the time He was betrayed and entered willingly into His passion, He took bread and giving thanks, broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you.” In a similar way, when supper was ended, He took the chalice and once more giving thanks, He gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.”

The mystery of faith.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ When we eat this bread and drink this cup, ♪
♪ We proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again. ♪

Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of His death and resurrection, we offer you, Lord, the bread of life and the chalice of salvation, giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you. Humbly we pray that partaking of the body and blood of Christ, we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.

Remember, Lord, your Church spread throughout the world and bring her to the fullness of charity together with Leo, our Pope, and Blas…, our bishop, and all the clergy. Remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection and all who have died in your mercy. Welcome them into the light of your face. Have mercy on us all, we pray, that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, blessed Joseph, her spouse, with the blessed Apostles and all the Saints who have pleased you throughout the ages, we may merit to be co-heirs to eternal life and may praise and glorify you through your Son, Jesus Christ. Through Him and with Him and in Him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours forever and ever.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ Amen, amen, amen. ♪

At the Savior’s command formed by divine teaching we dare to say:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress. As we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, for the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.

Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles, “Peace I leave you, my peace I give you,” look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will, who live and reign forever and ever.
Amen.

May the peace of the Lord, be with you always.
-And with your spirit.

Let us offer each other a sign of peace. Brothers and sisters, peace be with you.

On behalf of Father Scott Donahue and everyone here at Mercy Home, may you know of God’s love in your life, and know of our gratitude for you, for all your support of Mercy Home and the great institution, and all the important stuff we do here, especially for the young children here in our area. We pray for you and your intentions. We hold them in our hearts as we celebrate this Mass. May God’s peace go with you the rest of this day.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, ♪
♪ Have mercy on us. ♪
♪ Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, ♪
♪ Have mercy on us. ♪
♪ Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, ♪
♪ Grant us peace. ♪

Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
-Lord, I’m not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

♪ [Piano music] ♪

For those of you at home, please turn to page six in your TV Mass guide and join in singing our communion song, “Be Not Afraid.”

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ You shall cross the barren desert, ♪
♪ But you shall not die of thirst. ♪
♪ You shall wander far in safety, ♪
♪ Though you do not know the way. ♪
♪ You shall speak your words in foreign lands, ♪
♪ And all will understand. ♪
♪ You shall see the face of God and live. ♪
♪ Be not afraid. ♪
♪ I go before you always. ♪
♪ Come, follow me, and I will give you rest. ♪

And now, friends, I invite you to join me in our prayer for the children of Mercy Home.

Our Lady of Mercy, we pray that you will guide, protect, and bless all boys and girls who this day have a home called Mercy. May they find the Father’s mercy as we offer them our hearts in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. May they seek God’s mercy in action through our love, prayers, and sacrifices. And so, we pray.

Complete within us, O Lord, we pray, the healing work of your mercy and graciously perfect and sustain us so that all things we may please you through Christ our Lord.
-Amen.

Again, thank you for being with us. Our prayers for you this week. Have a great rest of your week and a great rest of your Sunday.

The Lord be with you.
-And with your spirit.

Bow your heads and pray for God’s blessing.

May almighty God bless you, for He has made you steadfast in St. Peter’s saving confession, and through it has set you on the solid rock of the Church’s faith. Having instructed you by the tireless preaching of St. Paul, may God teach you constantly by his example to win brothers and sisters for Christ. So that by the keys of St. Peter and the words of St. Paul, and by the support of their intercession, God may bring us happily to that homeland that Peter attained on a cross in Paul by the blade of a sword.
-Amen.

And may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit come down on you all and remain with you forever.
-Amen.

Go forth, the Mass is ended.
-Thanks be to God.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ Lord, whose love in humble service ♪
♪ Bore the weight of human need, ♪
♪ Who upon the cross forsaken ♪
♪ Offered mercy’s perfect deed, ♪
♪ We your servants bring the worship, ♪
♪ Not a voice alone but heart. ♪
♪ Consecrating to your purpose ♪
♪ Every gift that you impart, ♪
♪ As we worship grant us vision ♪
♪ Till your love’s revealing light… ♪

Hello, my friends. As you know, as I know, this TV ministry at Mercy Home is so important. It allows us to gather wherever you may be to participate in the prayer of the Church. It allows us to pray for one another and how important it is. It allows you and me to pray for the children here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. We’re nourished by our presence together and by the celebration of the Eucharist.

I just want to take this opportunity to thank you so very much for the ways in which you support this Mass here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. Please consider doing that going forward as well. May God bless you and your family and your friends for all you do for the TV Mass at Mercy Home and for our children.

The music for the broadcast of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home is generously provided by GIA Publications Incorporated and its World Library Publications division.

♪ [Piano music] ♪

The following presentation is made possible by the generosity of the viewers of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in Chicago.

Good morning and welcome to Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. Today we celebrate the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time. My name is Dan Riley. I am joined by Tom McNamara and Joyce McQuiggin. And our celebrant is Father James Wallace.

♪ The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ our Lord. ♪
♪ She is His new creation by water and the world. ♪
♪ From heaven He came and sought her ♪
♪ To be His holy bride. ♪
♪ With His own blood He bought her ♪
♪ And for her life He died. ♪

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
-Amen.

The Lord be with you.
-And with your spirit.

Good morning everyone. Welcome from Mass here at Mercy Home. We’re delighted that you could be with us to worship God together, to pray, to receive grace as a body of Christ. So let us prepare ourselves to celebrate these sacred mysteries by calling to mind our sins.

I confess to almighty God and to you my brothers and sisters that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do. Through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I ask blessed Mary ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and to you my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
-Amen.

Lord have mercy.
-Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
-Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
-Lord have mercy.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ Glory to God in the highest ♪
♪ And on earth peace to people of good will. ♪
♪ Glory to God in the highest ♪
♪ And on earth peace to people of good will. ♪

Let us pray. O God who caused the minds of the faithful to unite in a single purpose, grant your people to love what you command and to desire what you promise, that amid the uncertainties of this world our hearts may be fixed on that place where true gladness is found. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.
-Amen.

A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah.

Thus says the Lord to Shebna, master of the palace, I will thrust you from your office and pull you down from your station. On that day I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Haikea. I will clothe him with your robe and gird him with your sash and give over to him your authority. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the House of Judah. I will place the key of the House of David on Eliakim’s shoulder. When he opens, no one shall shut. When he shuts, no one shall open. I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot to be a place of honor for his family.

The word of the Lord.
-Thanks be to God.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ Lord, your love is eternal. ♪
♪ Do not forsake the work of your hands. ♪
♪ Lord, your love is eternal. ♪
♪ Do not forsake the work of your hands. ♪
♪ I thank you, Lord, with all my heart. ♪
♪ You have heard the words of my mouth. ♪
♪ In the presence of the angels I praise you. ♪
♪ I bow down toward your holy temple. ♪
♪ Lord, your love is eternal. ♪
♪ Do not forsake the work of your hands. ♪

A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans.

O, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God, how inscrutable are His judgments and how unsearchable His ways. For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor, or who has given the Lord anything that He may be repaid? For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.

The word of the Lord.
-Thanks be to God.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ♪
♪ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ♪
♪ You are Peter, ♪
♪ And upon this rock I will build my Church. ♪
♪ And the gates of the netherworld ♪
♪ Shall not prevail against it. ♪
♪ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ♪

The Lord be with you.
-And with your spirit.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
-Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then He strictly ordered His disciples to tell no one that He was the Christ.

The Gospel of the Lord.
-Praise to you, Lord, Jesus Christ.

Okay, famous passage, St. Peter receiving the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, the foundation of the Church. But let’s give a little context with our first reading – Isaiah, some history behind why Christ chose to give Peter keys and not some other item or object or whatever.

Ancient Israel was of course a city that was really in the middle of the nation of Israel, more or less. It was inland. Israel, as you all kind of picture a map in your mind, Israel was on the Mediterranean coast, on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea. And the Sea of Galilee, of course, was a fresh body of water, more or less. And then you had the Dead Sea just south of it, and the Jordan River connecting the two bodies of water. But then Jerusalem is right in the middle of the land, which is kind of unusual for a city to be built inland, especially an ancient city. You go to most cities, they’re built on rivers or on the coast. It’s just easy for commerce that way. Go to London or Paris or Chicago, wherever it might be, New York.

So why inland? Why this random spot? And it’s like kind of on a plateau in the desert also, hard to get to, not a lot of resources. Well, because this was the spot where Mount Moriah was, and that’s where Abraham was called to sacrifice Isaac. So it’s kind of a symbolic location. Abraham of course is the father of the nation of Israel. Now there is a spring of water, however, that does feed this mountain plateau, which is how they’re able to build walls and kind of sustain themselves throughout the various sieges that Israel faces.

But the steward of the Kingdom of Israel, so not the king of Israel, but the steward, kind of like his right-hand man, had a difficult task, but an important one, of ensuring that Israel could be a functioning city, that it could get food and water and that the walls were kept up and no foreign invaders could come in.

So the steward in the time of Isaiah the Prophet was a guy named Shebnub. And the steward of Israel was given kind of a lapel pen, if you will, keys that were put on his cloak. These are the keys of the steward of Israel, sort of like the Chancellor of England was given that sort of that sash, – that metallic sash around his chest – in the time of like St. Thomas More, Henry VIII and whatnot.

Anyway, Shebnub, who’s the steward of Israel, instead of taking care of the city of Jerusalem and diverting funds to keep up the wall, he builds a giant monument to himself on this other hillside outside of the city of Jerusalem. So he wastes their money. And so Isaiah is going to Shebnub saying, “Shebnub, you’re going to lose your job. The keys are going to be taken away from you, given to Heil Kye, given to another steward who’s going to properly take care of the city of the kingdom.”

Now, that guy, Shebnub’s successor did okay, but the stewards weren’t really great. And so basically what Jesus is saying, okay, last, I’m going to take the keys away finally, and I’m giving them at last to a rightful steward to St. Peter. And the keys are never going to be taken away from him. Or Peter is going to have the keys, and in a way he’s going to be given copies of the keys, and he’s going to give them to his successors, the Roman Pontiffs, the Popes.

So the Church is entrusted with the new city of Jerusalem, taking care of the Kingdom of Heaven, taking care of us. So yes, we can be properly fed and watered spiritually, that we can know Jesus Christ, and that we can work together as a community so that no one is left behind, no one is suffering. So the Church is here for us, and we need the Church, not just as this, you know, institution that keeps the rules, like the major league baseball rules commissioner, or whatever. The Church is a living body, Christ’s body, meant to keep us in this city. And when we’re in this city together, we’re flourishing. We’re receiving the word of God, helping one another, and ultimately, the path to heaven is being prepared for us.

So we pray for our Holy Father this day. We pray for all members of our Church, and especially for peace and unity in our Church and in our world. Amen.

So my dear brothers and sisters, we now profess our faith together:

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father. Through Him all things are made. For us men and for our salvation, He came down from heaven. And by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, He suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Trusting in our merciful God, we now pray for all the needs we have in our Church and in our world and in the silence of our hearts. Our response to each prayer will be, “Lord, hear our prayer.”

For all Church leaders who spread the Gospel throughout the world, may the Lord’s unconditional love and mercy fill the hearts of all who hear their words. We pray to the Lord.
-Lord, hear our prayer.

For our loved ones who have been called home to the Lord, may they find peace in the eternal kingdom. We pray to the Lord.
-Lord, hear our prayer.

For the children of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, may they find the strength to continue their healing process. We pray to the Lord.
-Lord, hear our prayer.

For those whose hearts have turned away from their faith, may they once again know the comfort and peace of the Lord’s presence. We pray to the Lord.
-Lord, hear our prayer.

Good and gracious God, we surrender our hearts into your hands this day and ask that you answer now these prayers. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ [Piano music continues] ♪

Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
-May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of His name, for our good and the good of all His holy Church.

O Lord, who gained for yourself a people by adoption through the one sacrifice offered once for all, bestow graciously on us, we pray, the gifts of unity and peace in your Church. Through Christ our Lord.
-Amen.

The Lord be with you.
-And with your spirit.
Lift up your hearts.
-We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
-It is right and just.

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere, to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God. For in you we live and move and have our being, and while in this body we not only experience the daily effects of your care, but even now possess the pledge of life eternal. For having received the firstfruits of the Spirit through whom you raised up Jesus from the dead, we hope for an everlasting share in the paschal mystery. And so with all the angels we praise you as in joyful celebration we acclaim.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of hosts, ♪
♪ Heaven and earth are full of your glory. ♪
♪ Hosanna in the highest. ♪
♪ Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. ♪
♪ Hosanna in the highest. ♪

You are indeed holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness. Make holy, therefore, these gifts we pray, by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall, so that they may become for us the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

At the time He was betrayed and entered willingly into His passion, He took bread and giving thanks, broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you.” In a similar way, when supper was ended, He took the chalice and once more giving thanks, He gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.”

The mystery of faith.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ When we eat this bread and drink this cup, ♪
♪ We proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again. ♪

Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of His death and resurrection, we offer you, Lord, the bread of life and the chalice of salvation, giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you. Humbly we pray that partaking of the body and blood of Christ, we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.

Remember, Lord, your Church spread throughout the world and bring her to the fullness of charity together with Leo, our Pope, and Blas…, our bishop, and all the clergy. Remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection and all who have died in your mercy. Welcome them into the light of your face. Have mercy on us all, we pray, that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, blessed Joseph, her spouse, with the blessed Apostles and all the Saints who have pleased you throughout the ages, we may merit to be co-heirs to eternal life and may praise and glorify you through your Son, Jesus Christ. Through Him and with Him and in Him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours forever and ever.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ Amen, amen, amen. ♪

At the Savior’s command formed by divine teaching we dare to say:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress. As we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, for the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.

Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles, “Peace I leave you, my peace I give you,” look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will, who live and reign forever and ever.
Amen.

May the peace of the Lord, be with you always.
-And with your spirit.

Let us offer each other a sign of peace. Brothers and sisters, peace be with you.

On behalf of Father Scott Donahue and everyone here at Mercy Home, may you know of God’s love in your life, and know of our gratitude for you, for all your support of Mercy Home and the great institution, and all the important stuff we do here, especially for the young children here in our area. We pray for you and your intentions. We hold them in our hearts as we celebrate this Mass. May God’s peace go with you the rest of this day.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, ♪
♪ Have mercy on us. ♪
♪ Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, ♪
♪ Have mercy on us. ♪
♪ Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, ♪
♪ Grant us peace. ♪

Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
-Lord, I’m not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

♪ [Piano music] ♪

For those of you at home, please turn to page six in your TV Mass guide and join in singing our communion song, “Be Not Afraid.”

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ You shall cross the barren desert, ♪
♪ But you shall not die of thirst. ♪
♪ You shall wander far in safety, ♪
♪ Though you do not know the way. ♪
♪ You shall speak your words in foreign lands, ♪
♪ And all will understand. ♪
♪ You shall see the face of God and live. ♪
♪ Be not afraid. ♪
♪ I go before you always. ♪
♪ Come, follow me, and I will give you rest. ♪

And now, friends, I invite you to join me in our prayer for the children of Mercy Home.

Our Lady of Mercy, we pray that you will guide, protect, and bless all boys and girls who this day have a home called Mercy. May they find the Father’s mercy as we offer them our hearts in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. May they seek God’s mercy in action through our love, prayers, and sacrifices. And so, we pray.

Complete within us, O Lord, we pray, the healing work of your mercy and graciously perfect and sustain us so that all things we may please you through Christ our Lord.
-Amen.

Again, thank you for being with us. Our prayers for you this week. Have a great rest of your week and a great rest of your Sunday.

The Lord be with you.
-And with your spirit.

Bow your heads and pray for God’s blessing.

May almighty God bless you, for He has made you steadfast in St. Peter’s saving confession, and through it has set you on the solid rock of the Church’s faith. Having instructed you by the tireless preaching of St. Paul, may God teach you constantly by his example to win brothers and sisters for Christ. So that by the keys of St. Peter and the words of St. Paul, and by the support of their intercession, God may bring us happily to that homeland that Peter attained on a cross in Paul by the blade of a sword.
-Amen.

And may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit come down on you all and remain with you forever.
-Amen.

Go forth, the Mass is ended.
-Thanks be to God.

♪ [Piano music] ♪
♪ Lord, whose love in humble service ♪
♪ Bore the weight of human need, ♪
♪ Who upon the cross forsaken ♪
♪ Offered mercy’s perfect deed, ♪
♪ We your servants bring the worship, ♪
♪ Not a voice alone but heart. ♪
♪ Consecrating to your purpose ♪
♪ Every gift that you impart, ♪
♪ As we worship grant us vision ♪
♪ Till your love’s revealing light… ♪

Hello, my friends. As you know, as I know, this TV ministry at Mercy Home is so important. It allows us to gather wherever you may be to participate in the prayer of the Church. It allows us to pray for one another and how important it is. It allows you and me to pray for the children here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. We’re nourished by our presence together and by the celebration of the Eucharist.

I just want to take this opportunity to thank you so very much for the ways in which you support this Mass here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. Please consider doing that going forward as well. May God bless you and your family and your friends for all you do for the TV Mass at Mercy Home and for our children.

The music for the broadcast of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home is generously provided by GIA Publications Incorporated and its World Library Publications division.

Okay, famous passage, St. Peter receiving the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, the foundation of the Church. But let’s give a little context with our first reading – Isaiah, some history behind why Christ chose to give Peter keys and not some other item or object or whatever.

Ancient Israel was of course a city that was really in the middle of the nation of Israel, more or less. It was inland. Israel, as you all kind of picture a map in your mind, Israel was on the Mediterranean coast, on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea. And the Sea of Galilee, of course, was a fresh body of water, more or less. And then you had the Dead Sea just south of it, and the Jordan River connecting the two bodies of water. But then Jerusalem is right in the middle of the land, which is kind of unusual for a city to be built inland, especially an ancient city. You go to most cities, they’re built on rivers or on the coast. It’s just easy for commerce that way. Go to London or Paris or Chicago, wherever it might be, New York.

So why inland? Why this random spot? And it’s like kind of on a plateau in the desert also, hard to get to, not a lot of resources. Well, because this was the spot where Mount Moriah was, and that’s where Abraham was called to sacrifice Isaac. So it’s kind of a symbolic location. Abraham of course is the father of the nation of Israel. Now there is a spring of water, however, that does feed this mountain plateau, which is how they’re able to build walls and kind of sustain themselves throughout the various sieges that Israel faces.

But the steward of the Kingdom of Israel, so not the king of Israel, but the steward, kind of like his right-hand man, had a difficult task, but an important one, of ensuring that Israel could be a functioning city, that it could get food and water and that the walls were kept up and no foreign invaders could come in.

So the steward in the time of Isaiah the Prophet was a guy named Shebnub. And the steward of Israel was given kind of a lapel pen, if you will, keys that were put on his cloak. These are the keys of the steward of Israel, sort of like the Chancellor of England was given that sort of that sash, – that metallic sash around his chest – in the time of like St. Thomas More, Henry VIII and whatnot.

Anyway, Shebnub, who’s the steward of Israel, instead of taking care of the city of Jerusalem and diverting funds to keep up the wall, he builds a giant monument to himself on this other hillside outside of the city of Jerusalem. So he wastes their money. And so Isaiah is going to Shebnub saying, “Shebnub, you’re going to lose your job. The keys are going to be taken away from you, given to Heil Kye, given to another steward who’s going to properly take care of the city of the kingdom.”

Now, that guy, Shebnub’s successor did okay, but the stewards weren’t really great. And so basically what Jesus is saying, okay, last, I’m going to take the keys away finally, and I’m giving them at last to a rightful steward to St. Peter. And the keys are never going to be taken away from him. Or Peter is going to have the keys, and in a way he’s going to be given copies of the keys, and he’s going to give them to his successors, the Roman Pontiffs, the Popes.

So the Church is entrusted with the new city of Jerusalem, taking care of the Kingdom of Heaven, taking care of us. So yes, we can be properly fed and watered spiritually, that we can know Jesus Christ, and that we can work together as a community so that no one is left behind, no one is suffering. So the Church is here for us, and we need the Church, not just as this, you know, institution that keeps the rules, like the major league baseball rules commissioner, or whatever. The Church is a living body, Christ’s body, meant to keep us in this city. And when we’re in this city together, we’re flourishing. We’re receiving the word of God, helping one another, and ultimately, the path to heaven is being prepared for us.

So we pray for our Holy Father this day. We pray for all members of our Church, and especially for peace and unity in our Church and in our world. Amen.