Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Peter and Paul, Apostles
1st Reading: Acts 12:1-1
2nd Reading: 2 Tim 4:6-8, 17-18
Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19
Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi. He asked his disciples, “What do people say of the Son of Man? Who do they say I am?” They said, “For some of them you are John the Baptist, for others Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
Jesus asked them, “But you, who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “It is well for you, Simon Barjona, for it is not flesh or blood that has revealed this to you but my Father in heaven.
“And now I say to you: You are Peter (or Rock) and on this rock I will build my Church; and never will the powers of death overcome it.
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and what you unbind on earth shall be unbound in heaven.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
Today’s Gospel reading deepens our understanding of the role of God in our lives. Moral controversies take us to Caesarea Philippi where Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” If we recognize him as an all wise Lord and Master, we’d always seek His guidance in making our decision. But if we see him as last recourse, we leave him out at the time of decision-making and usher him in when the decision takes us to ugly consequences.
Today’s Gospel reading also deepens our understanding of the importance of our relationship with the Pope. Peter’s answer “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” was in response to a question Jesus addressed to all apostles. But when Jesus commended him for his answer, Jesus was dealing with Peter alone. “It is well for you Simon son of Jonah,” Jesus said, “for it is not flesh or blood that has revealed this to you but my Father in heaven.” Consequently, it was to Peter alone and not to all apostles that Jesus conferred the title of being the rock foundation of the Church.
Peter did not live forever and so had to pass this power on to his successor the Pope. Noteworthy is the power to bind. Jesus said, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and what you unbind on earth shall be unbound in heaven.” The Pope exercises this power by virtue of succession. His official teachings on faith and morals are binding. By following the Pope’s interpretation of Jesus’ teachings, we are sure that we are not following an erroneous opinion because the Pope is protected by “that infallibility with which the divine redeemer willed to endow his church” (Pastor Aeternus). – Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM., MMExM, MAPM, REB. Email:dan.delosangeles@gmail.com.
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