You are the Christ
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Fri, 28 Jun 2019 16:02:48 +0000
Gospel: 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 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.”
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The Jews have long awaited the coming of the Messiah, and they imagine him to come in many different ways. Simon Peter is able to recognize Jesus, who stands before him and refers to himself as “Son of Man,” to be the long-awaited Messiah. Jesus calls Peter “blessed.” He also calls Peter son of Jonah. Peter has experienced spiritual transformation like the biblical figure in the Old Testament. Peter recognizes Jesus as the Messiah not by human judgment but by enlightenment brought by the grace of God.
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