"You Are The Messiah"

Mt 16: 13-19

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

 As we celebrate the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, we might use the occasion to hear the question Jesus posed to Peter addressed to us.  Who do we, who do I say that Jesus is?  The number of people searching for the truth, letting go of their family traditions and faith, or just drifting aimlessly, is staggering.  We pray for ourselves and for them during this Lenten Season, that, like Peter, we might renew our commitment to "the Messiah, the Son of the Living God."

Bro. Rene