Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 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.”
Peter and Paul
1. Peter. He is the figure of someone who is pure passion and dedication, someone who puts his heart into everything he does. He is like a mule in his clumsiness and closed-mindedness, but he goes all out, and that’s what is important. That’s what our first Pope is like. He put himself on the line for Jesus in the boat, but then he denied him later. Indeed, God does not call those who are qualified, but he qualifies those He calls. He chooses you the way you are and makes you the best version of yourself, as he did with Peter. Let yourself be drawn by Jesus… Let yourself be drawn by God…
2. Paul. He is the figure of the cold, rational, intellectual man. He knows languages, culture, and religion. He comes from a well-positioned family. He is different from Peter in all aspects. But in this way God shows us that there is no prototype to follow him. He brings out the best in you and in everyone. Paul goes from being a persecutor to being persecuted. He uses his intellect to proclaim Jesus in places where it seemed that no one could reach. When Jesus touches the heart, even the coldest heart becomes a torrent of grace.
3. The Church. Through Peter and Paul, we see that God works wonders and that He uses two totally different persons to form a living and thriving Church. Peter, a clumsy fisherman, becomes a guide and a lover of Christ. And as to Paul, from being an intellectual magistrate, he becomes a man in love with saving souls. One uses the nets and the other, the pen, to write God’s message. What do you use to get Jesus across to others?
Today, let’s pray for the Pope and for his health. May Our Lady take care of him and protect him.
Always remember that something good is on the way.
God bless you and guard you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
