22 February, 2024 | Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle

 Reading : 1 Pt 5:1-4

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.”

Reflection: 

In today’s gospel, Jesus asked His disciples three important questions that have three intertwined dimensions – decision, revelation, appointment.

Firstly,   Who do you say I am? After being with Jesus, they have to come to a decision about who Jesus is. They cannot borrow answers from what others think or say He is; they have to decide who He is. Then comes a revelation from Peter that Jesus is the "Christ, the Son of the living God". Jesus confirmed that it was indeed a revelation from God and not a logical deduction by Peter. And finally comes an appointment - Jesus appointed Peter to be the rock on which He will build the Church. 

Today, as we celebrate the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, let us put our hope in Jesus and remember His words to Peter: The gates of the underworld can never hold out against the Church, and it will march confidently forward in faith and love to fulfil the mission that God has entrusted to us.

  

Activity:

As we celebrate the commemoration of the establishment of the Papal authority by Christ. We specially dedicate this day to pray for our Holy Father Pope Francis who is the successor of St. Peter.