Gospel: Matthew
16:13-19
When
Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi 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.”
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Reflection:
Do you
know Saint Peter?
We celebrate
today the feast of the chair of Saint Peter. Peter is the most prominent
apostle; Jesus built and founded the church thru him, he was also the leader of
the twelve. Peter unwaveringly spread the gospel of Jesus even at the expense
of his own life.
If someone
would ask us this question: “Who is Jesus to you?” I am sure that our answer
would depend on how well we know Jesus. Some of us may answer that Jesus is a
friend who’s always there for us a friend who walks with us and ever ready to
hear us. Others may say that Jesus is a brother who is always ready to help us.
This was
the question posed by Jesus to His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of
Man is?” the people were unsure for they don’t know Jesus that well. Then Jesus
asked the apostles: “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. Peter knew Jesus well because more than
any other apostle he was always prominently with Jesus (Matthew. 10:2; 14:28;
15:15; 17:24; 19:27; Luke 8:51; 12:41).
Peter
also initially did not want Jesus to wash his feet, (John 13:7-9). When Jesus
was about to be arrested by the roman soldiers it was Peter who drew his sword
and cut off the ear of the soldier, (John 18:10) Peter was the first apostles
to enter the empty tomb of Jesus, (Luke 24:12), Peter was the first apostles to
whom Jesus appeared after His resurrection, (Luke 24:34)
Like
Peter, are we always prominently with Jesus by our prayers, through the Sacraments and by
always being present during Holy Mass?
Like
Peter, do we have that desire to know Jesus fully well by regularly reading the
Bible specially the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John?
If Jesus
will ask us this question today: “Who do you say that I am?” will He also be
satisfied with our reply? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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