Arek leads both Morning and Evening Prayer this week. Today’s Advent Morning Prayer – Arek considers a passage from Matthew’s gospel, chapter 16, verse 13 to the end. This scripture describes Jesus and his disciples entering into the land of Caesarea Philippi, a Roman city at the foot of Mount Hermon, also the site of a grotto dedicated to Pan. Jesus had spent his time teaching and debating with his followers, but in this city Jesus asks his disciples who they truly believe he is; “‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’”As you listen to this passage try to place yourself at the scene…”Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?”