Peter’s Confession about Jesus

Today's Reflections

Peter’s Confession about Jesus

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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 Gospel narrates a high point in the public life of Jesus: Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jesus accepts and praises the act of faith made by Peter, though Peter himself does not fully understand the way Jesus will exercise his messiahship. That is why Jesus enjoins silence on his disciples about his messiahship. He will still have to educate his disciples.

That is the way God deals with us. God does not reveal to us the divine plans all at once. God wants to guide us step by step. We must constantly seek the success that God wants in the way that God wants.

Answer for yourself Jesus’ question:

“Who do you say that I am?”