1st READING
One of the symbols of leadership is a father. A father cares for his family and protects them against dangers. All leaders, especially spiritual leaders, should remember this. To abandon his flock is one of the worst things a leader can do. It is like the captain of a sinking ship—he must be the last one to leave the ship. May our leaders always care for their flock as their first priority.
Isaiah 22:15, 19-23
Thus says the Lord to Shebna, master of the palace: “I will thrust you from your office and pull you down from your station. On that day I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah; I will clothe him with your robe, and gird him with your sash, and give over to him your authority. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. I will place the key of the House of David on Eliakim’s shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open. I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot, to be a place of honor for his family.”
PSALM
Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8
R: Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise; I will worship at your holy temple. (R) I will give thanks to your name, because of your kindness and your truth; when I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me. (R) The Lord is exalted, yet the lowly he sees, and the proud he knows from afar. Your kindness, O Lord, endures forever; forsake not the work of your hands. (R)
2nd READING
Paul’s words indicate a heart rejoicing in the wisdom and ways of God. Given this context, Paul’s dilemma is about the Jews who reject the Gospel and what God intends to do with them.
Romans 11:33-36
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor? Or who has given him anything that he may be repaid? For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
GOSPEL
“But who do you say that I am?” is Jesus’ ultimate question to His disciples. If we do not believe Jesus is the Son of God, Redeemer, and Savior, then we ignore the Gospels and live without its revelation and graces. If we do not believe, we will be frustrated and unfulfilled. But if we do believe, we will be eternally content and fulfilled.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:13-20
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.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
Reflect: “Lord Jesus, shelter our Holy Father the Pope under the protection of your sacred Heart. Be his light, his strength, and his consolation. Amen.” – Prayer for the Pope
LET US LOVE THIS CHURCH
Peter recognized and proclaimed Jesus as the Son of the Living God. It was a revelation gifted by the Father to Peter. Through this revelation, Jesus instituted the Church under the leadership of Peter, the Rock on which it will be founded.
It is a good opportunity for us today to understand the Church—the one founded by the Lord and does not refer only to the building but to the members and leaders as well. The members are the baptized and the leaders are those who were ordained according to Church traditions dating back to the time of the Lord Jesus. The Church is us—with our leaders and Jesus. The proclamation of the Good News, according to Jesus, for the salvation of souls is Her main purpose. The Church is the Sacrament of Jesus’ presence. She performs Jesus’ threefold function: prophetic, priestly, and kingly.
She is both sinful and holy, hypocrite and authentic. She is sinful and hypocrite because Her members are human beings with limitations and weaknesses. She is holy and authentic because of the presence of the Lord. The Church has existed and served since Peter’s designation as Her leader. She has her ups and downs, successes and failures, scandals and glories, due to human weakness. But she persisted and continues to exist because nothing, not even the gates of hell, can prevail over Jesus, the Son of God.
It is for this reason that we ought to trust the Church, Her members and leaders. Her many years of experience through history should attest for Her knowledge of the truth. Coupled with the guidance of the Spirit of Jesus, the Church, through the pope, is infallible. This is what the Church leaders, bishops, and priests, teach us. They are not free to teach their own knowledge and understanding of what Jesus taught. The Church’s Sacred Scriptures and Tradition combine to provide us with the truth and the context in which Jesus taught.
Let us love this Church. Jesus gave this to us. Fr. Benny Tuazon
---------- REFLECTION QUESTION ----------
Do you trust that the Church will prevail despite the current wave of persecution and attacks from evil forces?
Thank You for giving us the Church, dearest Father. Through Her, we find refuge. Amen.
Today, I pray for: __________________________
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment