Homily Reflections

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading I: Isaiah 22:15,19-23 II: Romans 11:33-36

Gospel
Matthew 16:13-20

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?"
14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Interesting Details

• (v.13) Caesarea Philippi, where Peter professed that Jesus was the Messiah, is a city built by prince Philip on the slope of Mount Hermon, north of Palestine. This place was known as a place of divine revelation in the Old Testament.
• (v.16) The term "Messiah" reflects the disciples' hope that Jesus would deliver Israel from its enemies and establish God's kingdom on earth.
• Verse 16 is parallel to Mk 8:27-28. However Matthew added a further specification of Jesus' identity as the Son of the living God.
• The phrase the "Son of the living God" corrects any false implications present in the title Messiah. In the Jewish context, the word Messiah has for most people a very precise meaning: the coming Davidic king, the religious/political leader who would restore the power and glory of the nation of Israel. Jesus consistently refuses a political interpretation of his mission.
• (v.18) In the New Testament, Jesus mentions Peter's name 195 times as compared to 130 times for all the rest of Apostles.

One Main Point

Peter makes his declaration of faith in Christ. Jesus appoints Peter as the leader of the Church as well as the gatekeeper of the kingdom of heaven.

Reflections

1. If Jesus comes and asks me who he is, how would I answer? If someone asks me who Jesus is, how do I explain?
2. Jesus called Peter to be the leader of his Church. In what role does Jesus call me to be?
3. Imagine myself being present at Caesarea Philippi among the apostles; how does Jesus react (gesture, facial expressions, tone) to Peter's answer? How do the apostles react when Peter is named the leader of the Church? 
4. Put myself in Peter's position; what will I do for the Church?

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading I: Jeremiah 20:7-9 II: Romans 12:1-2

Gospel
Matthew 16:21-27

21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
22 And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you."
23 But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men."
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
26 For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?
27 For the Son of man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay every man for what he has done.

Interesting Details

• (vv.21-23) This first prediction of the passion corrects the misunderstanding of Jesus' messiahship as solely one of glory and triumph, but one of suffering and death. 
• Any false interpretation of Jesus' messiahship is a temptation from Satan. Peter's attitude was rebuked sharply as a stumbling block in Jesus' way, and purely of human thinking.
• (v.24) The discipleship of the cross connects the fate of the disciples to Jesus' own fate.
• (vv.25-26) Only by self-denial oneself and allowing God do the guiding can freedom and happiness be found.
• (v.27) The idea of judgment according to one's deeds is dear to Matthew's heart, and expressed also in Paul's epistles (Rom 14:12; 1Cor 4:5)

One Main Point

As Jesus' disciples, we all follow his footsteps of denying ourselves, emptying ourselves to receive the Spirit of love, only then can we accept suffering and the death in accordance to the Father's plan.

Reflections

1. It has been said that the road to the hell is paved with good intentions. Can you name some of your outstanding successes and their driving forces? Are the motivations plainly human thinking? 
2. What kind of cross are you carrying? How do you carry it? Is there any way to transform suffering into love, love of God and love of one another?
3. Are you a cross that others have to bear? Why?