Peter’s Confession about Jesus

Today's Reflections

                               

 

     

Peter’s Confession about Jesus

Mt 16:13-19

¹³When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷Jesus 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. ¹⁸And 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. ¹⁹I 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:

You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. In response to this profession of faith by Simon Peter, Jesus promises to make him the rock foundation of his Church as Christ’s representative. He promises him full powers as his vicar: “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” These powers are to be exercised as given by Jesus who came not to be served but to serve, and to lay down his life as his ultimate service to humankind.

Peter must thus exercise his powers in the spirit of loving service. With Paul, he will give the ultimate service of sacrificing his own life for Jesus and for the brethren.

Pray for the Pope, Peter’s successor,

that he may exercise his God-given powers

in the way that Peter did.