22-Feb-17

Gospel MT 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."
Reflection:
Facing His crucifixion soon, Jesus had to know if any of His followers actually recognized Him for who He was; only their certainty that He came from the Father would give them sufficient strength to face the trials that would come their way.
He did not ask if they believed in His teachings. He did not ask if they believed in a particularly religion.
He simply asked, "But who do you say that I am?"
Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Today, millions of people throughout the world identify themselves as Christians.
The vast majority are Christians by virtue of being born into a Christian family and baptized as infants. We have been educated to varying degrees in the Christian beliefs.
In today's gospel Jesus is not asking you and me whether we believe in a particular church or all of the precepts of Christian teaching.
He simply asks, "Who do YOU say that I am?"
To those who look into their heart and confidently say, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," Jesus will give faith, joy and the strength to bear all the trials and difficulties of life.
"My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me." - - John 10:27