Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major

1The children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month. The people stayed in Kadesh. Miriam died there, and was buried there. 2There was no water for the congregation; and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 3The people quarreled with Moses, and spoke, saying, “We wish that we had died when our brothers died before the LORD! 4Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our animals? 5Why have you made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in to this evil place? It is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.” 6Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and fell on their faces. The LORD’s glory appeared to them. 7The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 8“Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you, and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it pour out its water. You shall bring water to them out of the rock; so you shall give the congregation and their livestock drink.” 9Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. 10Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Shall we bring water out of this rock for you?” 11Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his rod twice, and water came out abundantly. The congregation and their livestock drank. 12The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you didn’t believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” 13These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.

1Oh come, let’s sing to the LORD.

Let’s shout aloud to the rock of our salvation!

2Let’s come before his presence with thanksgiving.

Let’s extol him with songs!

…

6Oh come, let’s worship and bow down.

Let’s kneel before the LORD, our Maker,

7for he is our God.

We are the people of his pasture,

and the sheep in his care.

Today, oh that you would hear his voice!

8Don’t harden your heart, as at Meribah,

as in the day of Massah in the wilderness,

9when your fathers tempted me,

tested me, and saw my work.

13Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.” 20Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ. 21From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up. 22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This will never be done to you.” 23But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.”