Sunday Gospel Reflection
Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven

Introduction:

Authority is something everyone knows we need and everyone thinks should be present, but many chaff at having to be in submission to another's authority. God's basis and plan for authority, and man's, are frequently not the same, and are often in direct opposition to one another. At the center of God's plan for authority is a concern for reconciling humanity to himself and to one another, while frequently at the center of man's plan for authority is simply a quest for power, riches and fame. God's authority in our lives should be pre-eminent, overruling both human authority and self-authority. His is an authority, the understanding of which, primarily comes not from dwelling in isolation, me and God, but by living in community and in communion with the body of Christ, we and God. The community to which we belong, the Church, helps us to understand God's will and pledge allegiance to it. When conflict arises between God's authority, which is just, and human authority, which is capricious, we must come down on the side of God. People frequently choose their leaders based on charisma, appearance and their own self-interest. But God often turns the scheme of things
upside down and places a simple servant in a position of authority who will cooperate with His purposes. "There is a story that Francis once emerged from the woods at Porziuncola, where he had been praying, and was met by Brother Masseo. 'Why does the whole world follow you? Why you? You're not handsome, not clever or educated, and you don't come from a noble family. How do you explain it?' According to the story from the Fioretti, when Francis heard this he spent some moments gazing up to heaven and his heart was with God. Finally he said, 'You want to know why the whole world chooses to follow me. It is because the Lord could find no more miserable creature for the miraculous work he wished to accomplish-that is why He chose me. To put to shame nobility and greatness and power and beauty and wisdom." (From Francis of Assisi: A Prophet for Our Time by Fr. N.G. van Doornik)

Those in authority are constantly evaluated and judged. Some come through with flying colors, while others are bemoaned and castigated for the way they exercise authority. Rather than simply engaging in the judge-mental process of criticizing those in authority, and that with which they are dealing, much of which we do not understand, we need to focus more attention on our own response to authority. For we who are under authority, Jesus' words, "For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged," provide a chilling warning. Before we rail too vigorously against those placed in positions of authority over us we must answer two questions. First, have they been placed over us by God's power, to accomplish His purposes? Secondly, what is our responsibility to help them exercise authority in the name of the Authority.

First Reading
 Isaiah 22:15, 19-23 15

15 Thus says the Lord GOD of hosts, "Come, go to this steward, to Shebna, who is over the household, and say to him:
 ...
19 I will thrust you from your office, and you will be cast down from your station.
20 In that day I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah,
21 and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your girdle on him, and will commit your authority to his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.
22 And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
23 And I will fasten him like a peg in a sure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father's house.

Second Reading
Romans 11:33-36

33  O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34 "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?"
35 "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?"
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory for ever. Amen.

Gospel Reading
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.

Meditation

At an opportune time Jesus tests his disciples with a crucial  question: Who do men say that I am and who do you say that I am?  He was widely recognized in Israel as a mighty man of God, even being compared with the greatest of the prophets, John the Baptist, Elijah, and Jeremiah.  Peter, always quick to respond,  exclaimed that he was the Christ, the Son of the living God.  No mortal being could have revealed this to Peter; but only God.  Jesus then confers on Peter authority to govern the church that Jesus would build, a church that no powers would overcome.  Jesus plays on Peter's name which is the same word for "rock" in both Aramaic and Greek.  To call someone a "rock" is one of the greatest of compliments.  The ancient rabbis had a saying that when God saw Abraham, he exclaimed: "I have discovered a rock to found the world upon".  Through Abraham God established a nation for himself.   Through faith Peter grasped who Jesus truly was.  He was the first apostle to recognize Jesus as the Anointed One (Messiah and Christ) and the only begotten Son of God.   The New Testament describes the church as a spiritual house or temple with each member joined together as living stones (see 1 Peter 2:5).  Faith in Jesus Christ makes us into rocks or spiritual stones.  The Lord Jesus tests each of us personally with the same question: Who do you say that I am?

Reflections:

· Please re-read the phrase(s)/sentence(s) that move(s)/touche(s) you.
  What inner message of the heart is the Spirit whispering to you this week?

· 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?" (Matthew 16:13)
  -----If Jesus comes and asks you who he is, how would you answer? If someone asks you who Jesus is, how do you explain?

.  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. (Matthew 16:18)
   -----Jesus called Peter to be the leader of his Church. In what role does Jesus call you to be?

. Visualize yourself 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?

. Put yourself in Peter's position; what will you do for the Church

. What do you think about our Church? How faithful are you to all the teachings of the Church?

. Have you read any of the Church's documents recently?

To live His Word this week:

. Read any article about our church. You can find it in the following web address: www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm

.Buy clothes for your children in the coming school year at a decent price store instead of brand name ones and use some of your money to help the poor in the world.

For Youngsters:

. Follow your parents' advice when you go shopping for the coming school year.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I profess and believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.  You are my Lord and my Savior.  Make my faith strong like Peter's and give me boldness to speak of you to others that they may come to know you personally as Lord and Savior and grow in the  knowledge of your love.