Preparation for Sunday Service
For Sunday the 18th of January, 2026 (Festival of the Confession of Saint Peter)
As we gather for worship this Sunday in celebration of the Festival of the Confession of St. Peter, the Gospel reading brings us that confession: “You are the Christ” (Mark 8:29). It also brings us Jesus’ rebuke of St. Peter when he followed his confession with a rejection of the way of the cross. The first reading shows us that Peter came to recognize the centrality of the cross in God’s plan of redemption. Indeed, it was a crucified Christ he proclaimed to be Lord and Savior. In the epistle we see that he also came to understand Jesus’ instruction concerning self-denial and serving others. May we ever confess Jesus as the Christ who came to serve us by giving his life as a ransom for our sin, shoulder the cross he gives us, and follow him.
