Daily Readings - Tue Feb 22 2022
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
In today’s readings, we hear powerful messages about leadership, faith, and the call to serve. The first reading from 1 Peter reminds us that leadership in the Church is not about power or profit but about shepherding God’s people with humility and integrity. Peter exhorts the elders to care for the flock willingly, not out of obligation, and to lead by example, trusting in God’s plan. This passage emphasizes the importance of selfless service and the responsibility of those in positions of leadership to guide with love and compassion.
The Gospel from Matthew takes us to a pivotal moment in the life of Jesus. In Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” The disciples recount various opinions, but Jesus presses them further: “Who do *you* say that I am?” Peter’s bold confession, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” reveals a deep faith that goes beyond human understanding. Jesus responds by establishing Peter as the rock upon which He will build His Church, giving him the keys of the kingdom. This passage reminds us that true leadership is rooted in faith and that our identity as followers of Christ is tied to our willingness to profess Him as Lord.
These readings are deeply connected. In 1 Peter, we see the practical application of leadership in the Church, while in Matthew, we witness the foundation of that leadership in the person of Peter. Together, they call us to reflect on our own role in the Body of Christ. Are we leading with humility and integrity? Are we willing to serve others selflessly? And perhaps most importantly, do we have the courage to profess our faith in Jesus Christ, even when it is challenging? Let us strive to live out our faith with the same boldness and humility as Peter, trusting that God will use us to build up His Church and bring light to a world in need.