Gospel Mt 16:13-20
Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and 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.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
Homily
Some years ago I asked a politician, after a very nasty article was written about him, how he felt when he saw such articles. He told me that he had learnt not to take such articles seriously. He then went on to tell me that far more important for him was what his family, his wife and children, and some very close friends thought about him. Their opinion he added helped him to decide when he should change his mind about things. The fact is that all of us want to be well thought of but especially by those closest to us. What other people think may or may not worry us too much. What those closest to us think is always important.
Today in the gospel passage given to us for our meditation, we see this dynamic being played out. Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They tell him what everyone else is saying, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Jesus is not interested in what the others, that vague out there, is saying however. He wants to know what those closest to him are saying. This is important for him because it will tell him if those closest to him, really respect him and value the lessons that he is teaching them by word and deed. It will also tell him whether or not they are acquiring the values of the kingdom that he is that he is trying to teach them. Peter answers for the others “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” That answer tells Jesus that his disciples have begun to understand. He thanks God for this and then because they, the disciples have begun to understand he tells them of the greater responsibility which they will have when he is no longer on earth with them. He tells them, “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.”
The question that Jesus poses to his disciples is the question that all of us must periodically ask ourselves. What do those closest to us think about us? Do they consider us street angels? Or do they see us as persons of integrity, worthy of emulation. Only when those closest to us know us to be persons of integrity can we begin to hope that they will in fact be willing to acquire the values that we strive to teach them and that they will allow us to lead them further along the road.
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I suppose that God could say that about Mother Teresa and Msgr. Romero and Martin Luther King. God probably says it about many of our mothers and fathers, Can God say the same thing about us?
The answer to this question is important because in the measure that God can say this about us, in that measure we are persons worthy of emulation. Being persons worthy of emulation allows us to lead others further along on the journey of building the kingdom.
Today we thank God for those persons worthy of emulation, those who have taught us not only by what they say but also by the example of their lives, and we pray that our lives will be such that we too will help those around us to live by the values of the kingdom.
Prayer
All powerful and ever-loving God, we thank you for letting us know that You are our Father and that Jesus your Son is our Redeemer. Help us to so live that we will be known as your children. Help us in our words and actions to reveal your compassionate and loving face to the world, so that in all countries and in all cultures. You may be known and accepted by all Our Father. We ask this through the intercession of Mary our Mother and Jesus your Son. Amen
