XXI Sunday in OT:[A]: Is 22: 19-23; Rom 11: 33-36; Mt 16: 13-20

XXI Sunday in OT:[A]: Is 22: 19-23; Rom 11: 33-36; Mt 16: 13-20

Introduction: In the Gospel Reading from St. Matthew, we recall a high point in Jesus' relationship with his disciples. It represents a leap in their understanding of who he really is. It took them quite a while to come to this point. And even here, they still did not fully understand the implications of what they had just begun to realize. We will see a clear indication of this in next Sunday's Gospel Reading.

Exegesis: The Gospel passage begins with Jesus asking his disciples, “Who do the people say that the Son of Man is?” The incident takes place at Caesarea Philippi. Now, Caesarea Philppi was the place known for its temples and particularly outstanding was the great marble temple dedicated to the godhead of Caesar. This was understood as a place where many religions met. Again, here Jesus calls himself 'Son of Man,' thus identifying himself with the Messianic figure mentioned in the Book of Daniel.

In response to Jesus' inquiry, the disciples tell him that some people think he is John the Baptist, executed recently by Herod and raised to life. Others think him to be the Prophet Elijah who went to heaven in a fiery chariot without tasting death and was expected to return as a sign of the imminent coming of the Messiah. Still others think him to be the Prophet Jeremiah, who had hidden the Ark of the Covenant and was expected to show it before the coming of the Messiah. What is clear is that Jesus is seen by the people as a prophet, a spokesperson for God, and no more than that. Each of these was an honorable status, so perhaps Jesus didn’t mind if the people thought of these identifications about him.

But Jesus was more interested in what the disciples themselves had to say. So, second question, “But who do you say that I am?” It could have been an invitation to disclose their intimate thoughts, though perhaps it was a question about the way they spoke of Jesus to others, how they described him when they were away from the presence of Jesus.  On the first glance this question of Jesus appears quite simple, but it is a tricky one, as it knocks at the ground of one's very faith. Of course it is a personal question and it demands a personal answer too.  Then Peter, assuming his recognized leadership role in the group, replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” That was an immediate identification with the Messiah, who would lead the people and overcome all nations. Jesus was very clear about his own identity and the fact that he was the Messiah. But he was not ready yet to let others know about it; so, he ordered his disciples to keep the secret, because their idea of a Messiah was different than the actual one and he might not be able to do what he needed to do with the wrong expectations about him.

Jesus praised Peter, “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.” Hearing these words of Jesus, Peter must have glowed with pride. Only faith could have led Peter to say what he did. It needed faith to recognize the Messiah in the human figure standing before him.  And it is different from the images that most Jews would have had of their long-expected, all-conquering and nation-liberating leader. Only with God's enlightenment could they see God's presence in this carpenter from Galilee, Jesus.

In response to Peter's declaration of faith, Jesus now says, “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.” Peter is the rock, the foundation of the community which will carry the name and the authority of Jesus to the whole world. On him, together with his Apostolic companions as the faithful communicators of Jesus' life and message, will be built the Church, the assembly of God's people.  Peter is then given a special stewardship and responsibility for the community: “I will give you the keys of 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.” The keys are a sign that Jesus entrusts Peter the care of his Church. Here we see the parallelism with today's First Reading, where Eliakim is given the authority and power in a similar manner.

Joke:  “The Principal is a dummy!” said a boy to a girl.  “Well, do you know who I am?” asked the girl.  “No.” replied the boy.  “I’m the principal’s daughter,” said the girl.  “And do you know who I am?” asked the boy.  “No,” she replied.  “Thank goodness!” said the boy with a sign of relief.

Practical Applications: 1) Jesus calls us to live together as a family, a family that He calls His Church, a family of faith. He called it “my church”, and He declared that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Hell vanishes in the face of love; the devils flee in the face of trusting, forgiving, believing, and hoping love. Jesus knows that we can’t be our best all alone, all by ourselves. The best within us is always brought out in loving relationships with others. No amount of evil can ever overcome any amount of love. That’s why the gates of hell are powerless in the face of it. Have faith and thus love.

2) Who is Jesus for me? It is a personal question. Do you have a personal answer? The personal answer of love and faith can be found only in prayer, only in presence of Jesus. And again, if you have a personal answer with always being faithful to him, then again another responsibility is on your shoulder. What did you do in building up his Church.

Twenty First Sunday in OT: Introduction

Message: As Eliakim is given authority as master of the palace, so does Jesus confer upon Peter authority to bind and loose.  To Jesus, who promised to be with his Church for all time, be glory for ever and ever.

Saints and Events I this week:  25 – Twenty Fifth – Monday – Saint Louis; Saint Joseph Calasanz, priest; 27 – Twenty Seventh – Wednesday – Saint Monica; 28 – Twenty Eighth – Thursday – Saint Augustine, bishop, doctor of the Church; 29 – Twenty Ninth – Friday – The Passion of Saint John the Baptist;