Cycle A - Year II:
24 August 2014: 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Liturgical color: Green)
Matthew 16:13-20
Faith as solid as a rock!
Relationship is best defined by how well we know a person, not so much in the physical sense but more on the inner self. Because physical attributes fade away, while that within us is lasting.
In the Gospel narrative this Sunday, we learn how the first disciples know our Lord Jesus, and how that knowledge of Him gave them courage and inspiration to follow our Lord, even unto death.
Jesus has established faithful followers in his public ministry. At a certain point in his mission, He wanted to know to what extent his disciples had pierced the mystery of his person. Jesus asked his closest disciples about what people thought of Him. There were many views: for some He was "John the Baptizer"; for others "Elijah" who was supposed to reappear before the Messiah; and still for others "Jeremiah or one of the prophets" who had to come back to life.
In reality Jesus was not interested about what other people say about Him; He wanted to know how his own ministry had disclosed his true identity. So He asked his disciples the decisive question:"But who do you say that I am?"
It was Peter who has the deepest insights into our Lord's person. Peter was quick to reply:"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!" Peter grasped the deepest reality of Jesus: His divine being. Our Lord Himself said that this understanding did not come from Peter's human capabilities. Rather, Peter was given knowledge of the mystery of Jesus because he listened to the Lord, saw his miraculous deeds and trusted Jesus absolutely.
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Jesus rewarded the faith and confession of Peter by giving him the key or the leadership of the church. Jesus said to him:"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."
In sum, this Sunday's gospel has two parts: the first part is the Confession of Peter, and the second part is the Commissioning of Peter as the first Pope. And Peter accomplished his mission, leading the Church to our generations through all the Popes that succeeded him.
And so today, our Lord asks the same question to all Christians in our generations: "And you, who do you say that I am?"
Our individual response to the above question defines our relationship with our Lord Jesus. Like Peter, our "confession" of faith must go deeper than lip service. Our "confession" must come with a "commissioning" to be Jesus' disciples here and now in our time. "Commissioning" means effectively translating our "confession" of faith into concrete actions for the good of the whole Church, for example through love and Christian charity for others. within our family, the bigger community, the nation, and the whole world.
In the Eucharist at Holy Mass, let us pray for Pope Francis and the leaders of the Church that they remain faithful stewards and exercise their pastoral authority according to the examples of our Lord, the sole foundation of the Church.
Let us also pray for our Christian brethren persecuted for their faith, that they remain steadfast and unwavering in the belief that victory in Jesus Christ is their final reward.