The Holy Gospel according to 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.”
Reflection:
Think about this …Jesus could have chosen anyone as the rock on which to build His Church. He might have selected someone rich, powerful, or someone highly respected, or the temple priest or prophets. Instead, in His divine wisdom, Our Lord chose Simon Peter—an ordinary fisherman who was not wealthy and had no formal training in Scripture. Peter was a working-class man, much like us. Jesus called ordinary people to continue His mission, not those defined by status, wealth, influence, or social standing. What mattered to Him was not a person’s accomplishments, but what He could do through that person. The call was, and still is, about action, our action.
Take for example the qualities of a good fisherman are also the same qualities of a faithful disciple. Fishing requires patience and perseverance, just as discipleship does, especially in moments of discouragement and hardship. A skilled fisherman knows when and where to cast the line; likewise, a disciple must be sensitive to the hopes, needs, and struggles of others. And just as fishermen choose the right bait, disciples must understand people’s real lives so they can share the “Hope and Love” Jesus offers.
Today’s Scripture is not only a call to action but it’s our call from God to “take action”. The question is whether we are truly doing something in the name of Our Lord. Are we using the gifts He has given us to their fullest potential? This brings to mind one of my favorite passages from Galatians: “I have been crucified with Christ, and the life I live now is not my own; Christ is living in me. I still live my human life, but it is a life of faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:19b-20. In other words, I strive to be a man of action—a “Fisher of Men”—because the life I live is not my own but belongs to the Lord. As I said last week and I will repeat it again, I may not be eye candy but I sure am soul food!
Action of the Day: PAUSE and PRAY and PONDER. Ask him! Ask God this simple question and then take the time throughout the day to ponder. Lord, what is it that you want me to do? If you listen, then He will answer you.
Audio Reflection
