Reflection for August 5 Thursday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 16:13-23

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-23

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and 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.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.  

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

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Reflection:

Is there a reward for a person who exerts effort to know Jesus deeply? Yes there is and this is proven in the gospel reading for today. 

When Jesus said to His disciples: “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter knew Him well thus he said: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Aside from the gift of knowing Jesus which God gave Peter. Peter also exerted effort to know Jesus otherwise Peter would have not said: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  

What was the reward of Peter? Jesus rewarded Simon Peter by building the church through him: “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.” (Matthew 16:18)  

What is then the reward for us if we exert effort to know Jesus? The rewards are enormous, infinite and unfathomable: such as peace of mind, peaceful life, obedient and loving children and many more.   

Through our Baptism we are already given the gift of knowing Jesus and having a personal relationship with Him. Let us not throw this gift away by not opening it, to open this is to have an interest in Jesus. 

This we can do by reading His life story in the scripture through the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. By living His teachings and by our sacred presence in the celebration of the Holy Mass.  

Do you also want to receive rewards from the Lord? -  Marino J. Dasmarinas