Who do you say I am? 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mt 16:13-20 13 Jesus went to the territory near the town of Caesarea Philippi, where he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 “Some say John the Baptist,” they answered. “Others say Elijah, while others say Jeremiah or some other prophet.” 15 “What about you?” he asked them. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 “Good for you, Simon son of John!” answered Jesus. “For this truth did not come to you from any human being, but it was given to you directly by my Father in heaven. 18 And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven; what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” 20 Then Jesus ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. Other readings: Isaiah 22:19-23; Psalm 138:1-3, 6, 8; Romans 11:33-36 LECTIO In Jesus’s day many Jews believed that God had promised to send them a Messiah or anointed king who would set Israel free from oppression and establish God’s kingdom on earth. How this would work out in practice was unclear, but a new king would certainly be a threat to Herod, the Roman authorities and, ultimately, Caesar. Jesus chooses a remote town, Caesarea Philippi in the far north-east of Israel, to discuss this revolutionary topic with his disciples. Jesus poses the question indirectly by asking who people say the “Son of Man” is. The people think Jesus is a prophet of some kind, maybe John the Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah but they are not sure. So Jesus asks the disciples what they think. Peter answers that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the living God”. Jesus commends Peter, telling him that the Father has revealed this secret to him. In making this declaration Peter is proclaiming his allegiance to God’s new anointed king. However it is important to note that the title “Son of the living God” was an Old Testament term that reinforced the term “Messiah”. When giving his reply Peter wouldn’t have understood “Son of God” in the divine sense or thought of Jesus as being part of the Trinity. Jesus then declares that Peter will be the foundation stone for his new kingdom people, his Church. This new community of people who are willing to declare their allegiance to God’s appointed king starts right here with the disciples. Jesus declares that death will not be able to overcome the members of this new community. Jesus also gives authority, or the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to the disciples. And finally he insists they keep this revelation that he is the Messiah a secret for the time being. MEDITATIO How would the disciples have felt after this revelation? Would it have changed the way they listened to Jesus? The mission had now become far more dangerous – Jesus was surely on a collision course with Herod and the Romans. Everyone has to answer Jesus’s question, “Who do you say that I am?” What is your response? Jesus chose Peter as the foundation for his Church in spite of his human failings. What can we learn from this? What do you think about the Church and the authority God has given it? Are you willing to accept authority? Do you exercise it in a godly way? ORATIO Ask God to give you an ever deeper knowledge and love for Jesus. Ask him to help you play your part in your church community. CONTEMPLATIO Reflect on these verses from Romans 11:33-36: “How great are God’s riches! How deep are his wisdom and knowledge! Who can explain his decisions? Who can understand his ways? As the scripture says, ‘Who knows the mind of the Lord? Who is able to give him advice? Who has ever given him anything, so that he had to pay it back?’ “For all things were created by him, and all things exist through him and for him. To God be the glory for ever! Amen.” Lectio Divina is an ancient tradition of reading and engaging with God’s Word