Cycle A - Year 1:  

27 August 2017:  Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time 

(Liturgical Color: Green)

Readings:

First Reading:        Isaiah 22:19-23

Second Reading:   Romans 11:33-36

Gospel:Please Read  Matthew 16:13-20

A test of faith!

How well  you know a person conditions the relationship you establish with that person. But knowing the person is not so much in the physical sense rather more on the inner self. Because we know that physical attributes fade away, while that within us is lasting.

The Gospel narrative this Sunday tells us how the first disciples know our Lord Jesus Christ, and how that knowledge of Him gave them the courage and inspiration to follow our Lord in His public ministry, even unto death.

Jesus has established faithful followers. At a certain point in His mission, He wanted to know to what extent His disciples had pierced the mystery of His person. So Jesus asked His closest disciples about what people thought of Him? They replied with many answers: 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.

The truth was that Jesus was not really interested about what other people say about Him; because He wanted to know how His own ministry had disclosed His true identity. So our Lord asked the disciples the decisive question: "But who do you say that I am?"

Peter was the one who has the deepest insights into our Lord's person. He was quick to reply: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!" By his answer, 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.

The Gospel story continues that Jesus rewarded the faith and confession of Peter by giving him the key or the leadership of the Church Jesus Himself established. So 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, the Gospel for this Sunday 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 the "Pope, following Saint Peter, continuous to play a crucial role in guiding and maintaining the unity of the Catholic Church."

And so today, our Lord Jesus Christ asks the same question to all Christians in our generations: "And you, who do you say that I am?"

At this point, let us pause awhile and reflect our answer to the question. Because our individual and personal response defines our own relationship with our Lord Jesus. Like Peter, our "confession" of faith must also go deeper than just lip service. Our "confession" of faith 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 Mass, let us pray for Pope Francis and other leaders of the Church that they remain faithful stewards and exercise their pastoral authority according to the examples of our Lord Jesus Christ, the sole foundation of the Church, especially during these most trying times in the history of our nation.

Let us also pray for our Christian brethren persecuted because of their faith, that they remain steadfast and unwavering in the belief that victory in Jesus Christ is their final reward.... in God's kingdom. Amen.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!