Daily Readings - Thu Feb 22 2018

First Reading - 1 Peter 5.1-4

¹Therefore, I beg the elders who are among you, as one who is also an elder and a witness of the Passion of Christ, who also shares in that glory which is to be revealed in the future²pasture the flock of God that is among you, providing for it, not as a requirement, but willingly, in accord with God, and not for the sake of tainted profit, but freely³not so as to dominate by means of the clerical state, but so as to be formed into a flock from the heart⁴And when the Leader of pastors will have appeared, you shall secure an unfading crown of glory

Gospel - Matthew 16.13-19

Matthew

Chapter 16

¹³Then Jesus went into parts of Caesarea Philippi. And he questioned his disciples, saying, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?¹⁴And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, and others say Elijah, still others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets.¹⁵Jesus said to them, "But who do you say that I am?¹⁶Simon Peter responded by saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.¹⁷And in response, Jesus said to him: "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father, who is in heaven¹⁸And I say to you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it¹⁹And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound, even in heaven. And whatever you shall release on earth shall be released, even in heaven.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of leadership, faith, and the foundation of the Church. In the first reading from 1 Peter, we hear a call to humble and selfless leadership. Peter exhorts the elders to tend to the flock of God willingly, not out of obligation or for personal gain, but with genuine care and devotion. This passage emphasizes the importance of serving others with integrity and generosity, trusting that God will reward such fidelity in His own time. The image of shepherding reminds us that leadership is not about power or control but about nurturing and guiding others with love. In the Gospel, we encounter a pivotal moment in Matthew’s narrative. Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” The disciples report various opinions, but it is Peter who confesses, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This profession of faith is not merely a human insight; it is a revelation from God. Jesus responds by declaring Peter the rock upon which He will build His Church, granting him the keys of the kingdom. This passage highlights the central role of faith in Jesus Christ as the foundation of the Church and the importance of trusting in God’s plan. Together, these readings remind us that our lives, like the Church, are built on the rock of faith in Jesus Christ. Whether we are called to leadership or to simpler forms of service, we are all invited to live with humility, integrity, and generosity. Let us strive to follow Jesus with courage and trust, knowing that our efforts to serve others and live according to His will are not in vain. May we, like Peter, allow our faith to guide us and may we build our lives on the solid foundation of Christ, who is the ultimate source of strength and truth.