21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

August 23, 2020

 

Readings:

First Reading: Isaiah 22: 19-23

Psalm 138 “Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.”

Second Reading: Romans 11: 32-36

Gospel reading according to Matthew 16: 13-20

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Homily:                

Jesus was called Son of David or Son of Man of a Canaanite woman in the region of Tyre and Sidon, which made an impression nn Jesus.  After Jesus went out from the region of Tyre and Sidon, he and his disciples proceeded to Caesarea Philippi, another pagan territory, where different religions are free to express, practice, exercise and perform their different rites.  No Jews will disturb or accuse of blasphemy there.  “When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, ‵Who do people say that the Son of Man is′?” (Matthew 16: 13).  Here Jesus asked his disciples an important question. He wanted to know how deep the knowledge of his disciples as they were acquainted with him; so that when the time of his departure comes, he can be assured that he can leave his disciples with full knowledge about who he was.  First, he wanted to know how people saw and identified him.  To know this, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”  This also is a test of faith and involvement of his disciples when they mixed and accompanied the crowd.

Jesus asked first what the people think about him, about the Son of Man, as what the Canaanite woman called him.  The disciples told Jesus what they heard from the people.  “They replied, ‵Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets′.” (Matthew 16: 14).  People thought that he was John the Baptist who was raised from the dead.  We cannot blame the people if they thought that Jesus was John because they were cousins, they have some similar features: the same physic, maybe the same face.  They both have long hair, and long beard, except John lived in the wilderness.  They also presumed Jesus to be Elijah for he proclaimed the good news to the poor; some said that Jesus was Jeremiah who was not afraid to the authority, to those with power on the truth, about the evil they were doing, and the abuses done to the people Israel. Jesus also compared to other prophets of old.  That’s the way they saw Jesus as a Son of Man.  Almost all the prophets were called Sons of Man but none of them were called Son of God.

Then Jesus reverted the question to his disciples.  “He said to them, ‵But who do you say that I am′?” (Matthew 16: 15).  Jesus asked the same question to his disciples, “But who do you say that I am?”  There was momentary silence among the disciples.  They were unaware and did not predict that they were also questioned by their Master and Teacher about who he was.  Peter broke the silence.  “Simon Peter said in reply, ‵You are the Christ, the Son of the living God′.” (Matthew 16: 16).  Peter confessed that Jesus is the Son of the living God and not only the Son of Man.  He is the Christ, the Anointed One.

Jesus affirmed what Peter professed, for it was revealed to him by God who Jesus was, and not by personal contention or forewarning, or feeling nor of his flesh and blood.  “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 of 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′.” (Matthew 16: 17-19).  Afterward he was made the leader of his Church.  More than ever, it is important to recognize and accept the primacy of the chair of Peter as the leader of the Universal Church in this time of ecumenical movement, a movement for the unity of all separated brethren into One Church, One Lord in Jesus Christ. For Peter the Church was built, “. . . and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it,” and also it was given to Peter the Keys of heaven, “I will give you the keys of 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.”  So, there is no reason to separate from the true Church founded to the Apostle Peter and the rest of the Apostles.

Afterwards he warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he really was. “Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ” (Matthew 16: 20).  He let the people  believe what they perceived, knew about the Son of Man, but he strictly ordered his disciples his secret as the Son of God.