Reflection for Friday, February 22; Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle; Matthew 16:13-19

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:

Can we know Jesus deeply by our own effort and can we have deep friendship with Jesus by our own will? No, because everything that we know about Jesus and our faith is a gift from God. Through God’s own doing we know something about HIM and our faith, everything is grace and we are mere facilitators of this grace.

When Simon Peter was able to point out the true identity of Jesus. He was subsequently told by Jesus that he know HIM because of the grace of God. Why did Jesus told Peter that what he knows about HIM is a gift from God? Perhaps it was Jesus way of telling Simon Peter that he must humbly use his knowledge about God to bring others to God and not to bring unto himself the glory that is due to God alone.

Today is, also the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter one of the  two pillars of the church. Why is Peter successful in his mission to spread the faith? This is for the reason that remained humble in doing his ministry. Peter, did not raise himself to the altar of significance and prominence. Peter remained a humble missioner for Jesus.  

This is also a very good reminder for all of us who share the words of God. When we share, preach or write about God let us always see to it that we don’t highlight anyone else except God alone.  As Saint John the Baptist said, I must decrease and HE must increase (John 3:30). – Marino J. Dasmarinas