Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19
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:
If someone were to ask you today: “Who is Jesus to you?” Your answer would likely depend on how well you know Him.
Some of us may say, “Jesus is my friend—He’s always there for me.” Others might say, “He’s like a brother—always ready to help.” Indeed, the way we see Jesus reflects the depth of our personal relationship with Him.
Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity
of Saints Peter and Paul—two pillars of our faith.
Saint Peter was the foremost of the apostles. Jesus built His Church upon him, making him the visible head of the Twelve. Saint Paul, on the other hand, was called to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles—those who did not yet know Christ. Both saints faithfully shared in the ministry of Jesus. Both gave their lives for the sake of the Good News.
In the Gospel, Jesus asked His disciples: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13) They gave different answers—some said John the Baptist, others Elijah or one of the prophets. But then Jesus asked a more personal question: “But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15) Simon Peter replied with deep conviction: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus blessed him in return and affirmed that this truth was revealed to him by the Father.
Peter knew Jesus intimately. Among all the apostles, he was frequently by the Lord’s side (see Matthew 10:2; 14:28; 15:15; 17:24; 19:27; Luke 8:51; 12:41). He was the one who initially resisted when Jesus wanted to wash his feet (John 13:7–9). He was the one who drew his sword to defend Jesus during His arrest (John 18:10). He was the first apostle to enter the empty tomb (Luke 24:12) and the first to whom the Risen Lord appeared (Luke 24:34).
Like Peter, are we walking closely with Jesus—especially through the Sacraments and the Holy Mass? Like Peter, do we desire to know Jesus more deeply by reading the Holy Scriptures, especially the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John?
Saint Paul had a different path. He did not walk with Jesus during His earthly ministry, but after encountering Him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), his life was radically transformed. From being a persecutor of Christians, he became Christ’s most passionate missionary. His zeal for spreading the Gospel remains unmatched even today.
Saint Paul allowed Jesus to move in his life so powerfully that he became a voice of Christ to the nations. He used his education and gifts to author many of the letters we now read in the New Testament—words that continue to inspire and guide the Church.
Are we also allowing Jesus to work through us? Are we letting Him use our gifts, our knowledge, and our lives to help others know Him more?
If Jesus were to look into your heart
right now and ask: “Who do you say that I am?” Would you be able to respond
with deep faith, love, and conviction? Let this question echo in your soul
today. Let it lead you to a deeper relationship with the One who knows you best
and loves you most. — Marino J. Dasmarinas
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