Gospel: Matthew 16: 13-19
After that, Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi. He asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They said, “For some of them, you are John the Baptist; for others Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”
Jesus asked them, “But you, who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “It is well for you, Simon Barjona, for it is not flesh or blood that has revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.
And now I say to you: You are Peter; and on this Rock I will build my Church; and never will the powers of death overcome 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 unbind on earth shall be unbound in heaven.”

Reflections
“Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
Peter and Paul are the two great pillars of the Church.
Peter was the leader of the 12 apostles. He refused to be silenced by the authorities and thus was imprisoned. Peter was bold to give witness to Christ because he journeyed with him from Galilee to Je­rusalem. He rightly identified him when asked. He spoke on behalf of the group.
Paul was not one of the 12, but he is considered an apostle. He was also called by God through revelation. Like Peter, Paul felt he was poured out as a libation. He is waiting for his execution for spea­king out for Christ. He too could not be silenced by authorities.
For Christians, it is very im­portant to be anchored in Christ. We cannot follow Christ when we have not been with him in prayer and we are disconnected with his Church. Our discipleship entails mission. Here like the two apos­tles, we suffer for Christ. We are not spared of rejection and death when we boldly open our mouth and proclaim that“Christ is the Son of the Living God” and he is the way to salvation.
Do you lean on Jesus like the two pillars of the Church?

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