August 27, 2017

Gospel: Mt 16:13-20
After that, Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi. He asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They said, “For some of them, you are John the Baptist; for others Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”
Jesus asked them, “But you, who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “It is well for you, Simon Barjona, for it is not flesh or blood that has revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.
And now I say to you: You are Peter; and on this Rock I will build my Church; and never will the powers of death overcome it.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you unbind on earth shall be unbound in heaven.”
Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

REFLECTION:
Read: Inscrutable are the ways of God and His wisdom. Yahweh reveals His plan to depose Shebna, a major officer in the court, and install Eliakim in his place. At Caesarea Philippi, Peter makes the profession of faith and Christ deposits the keys of the Kingdom with Peter.
Reflect: What made God choose Eliakim to own the keys of David? What made Christ choose Peter to own the keys of the Kingdom? Neither of them was a perfect human being. But God chooses not according to human merits, but by God’s own wisdom that is beyond human understanding. If God has called us to do some task, let us humbly realize that it is not out of our merit, but of His own that He has chosen us. All praise, glory, honor, and worship to Him alone.
Pray: Let us pray for a humble and willing heart to accept God’s call.
Act: Role-play Peter. How would you respond to the assignment from Jesus?