Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
Matthew 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

It’s interesting to see that there were many ideas of who the Messiah would be, and one of the things they developed is that many thought it would be one of the greats of the Old Testament coming back, one of the great prophets.

But what came back was not a prophet from the old, but a prophet from something radically new. Jesus reveals that he is the Son of God, and that when you understand that when you live within that you have authority, you have a sense of being a steady rock that deals with all issues. Because what we're holding on to is a God who speaks to us, teaches us, helps us, awakens us.

He's not distant any longer. He doesn't work just through prophets, but he works in our hearts. And when you have that inside of you, then you are able to speak a truth that is both true here on Earth and in heaven. Which is another way to say, this is truth. 

Closing Prayer

Father, on this feast of Saint Peter, the first leader of our church. Help us to realize that the church is grounded in one single thing, and that is absolute truth. God revealing to us exactly His will for us. And as important as that is for it to flow from an institution in many ways, yes the institution guards against error, but at the same time, it’s the personal relationship we have with God that is the great teacher. Help us to listen to his message. He comes and dwells within us, awakening us, teaching us, healing us. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.