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.
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 through our prayers,
through the Sacraments and by always being present during Sunday 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 would 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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