Daily Readings - Sat Feb 22 2020
1 Peter
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
Matthew
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 leadership, faith, and the foundation of the Church. In the first reading from 1 Peter, we hear a call to those entrusted with shepherding God’s people. Peter emphasizes that leadership is not about power or personal gain but about serving with humility and integrity. He reminds us that true authority comes from God and that leaders must care for the flock willingly and selflessly. This passage is a reminder that all of us, in our own ways, are called to lead and serve others, whether in our families, communities, or places of work.
In the Gospel, we encounter a pivotal moment in the life of Jesus. When Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” it is a question that prompts them to reflect on the whispers and opinions of the world. But then Jesus turns to them and asks, “Who do you say that I am?” It is Peter who, inspired by God, confesses, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This confession is not just a statement of faith; it is the rock upon which Jesus builds His Church. Peter’s declaration reminds us that our faith is not based on human wisdom but on the revelation of God. It is this same faith that grounds us today and calls us to live as witnesses of Christ in the world.
These readings challenge us to examine our own lives. How do we lead and serve others? Do we do so with humility and integrity, or are we tempted by self-interest? And how do we respond to Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” Our answer to this question shapes how we live, how we love, and how we share the Gospel with others. May we, like Peter, be bold in our confession of faith and may we, like the good shepherd, care for one another with selfless love. Let us remember that the Church is not just an institution but a living body of believers, and we are all called to build it up in truth and love.