THE WORD
1 Pt 5,1-4 / Mt 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 Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For esh 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.”
IN OTHER WORDS
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?... But who do you say that I am?” The answers came with names of people of great repute like John the Baptist, Elijah and Jeremiah. When Peter replied, he did not associate Jesus with these respected predecessors nor with others’ views and opinions. He answered from his understanding as the Father had revealed to him. The Father’s knowledge of His Son: “You are my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased” was heard through Peter’s confession, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
This outstanding articulation of Peter merited from Jesus not only an affirmation but also a specific ministry proper to someone specified by the Father to take on a particular role – “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church…I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind…whatever you lose will be confirmed in heaven.”
He may be Peter (which means, Rock) but a rock does not oat; rather it rests on a solid base. This rock’s “revered center” is the Lord Himself. Peter’s knowledge about the Christ did not spring from what he simply knew from the people around him but from what he understood and experienced. Peter’s confession is a model for us believers. We need to know the Lord more. We will benefit definitely from the teachings and catechism about Jesus. Living these teachings will be a confession of faith. How wonderful when people who do not know Christ will come to know and confess Christ because they know us.
- Fr. Ferdinand Bajao, SVD | Rome, Italy
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
