Daily Readings - Sat Feb 22 2025
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, humility, and the profound revelation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. In the first reading from 1 Peter, we hear a call to shepherding the flock of God with integrity and selflessness. Peter, who had once been a disciple, now writes as an elder, urging other leaders to care for the community not out of obligation or personal gain, but with willingness and generosity. This passage emphasizes the importance of humble and sincere leadership, rooted in a deep love for God and His people.
In the Gospel, we find a pivotal moment in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” The disciples report various opinions, but it is Peter who boldly declares, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This confession is not just a moment of personal insight; it is a divine revelation given to Peter by the Father. Jesus responds by establishing Peter as the rock upon which He will build His Church, granting him the keys of the kingdom and the authority to bind and loose. This passage underscores the central truth of Jesus’ identity and the foundational role of faith in the life of the Church.
These readings are deeply connected. Both emphasize the importance of leadership and faith. In 1 Peter, we see the call to lead with humility and integrity, while in Matthew, we witness the transformative power of faith in recognizing Jesus as the Son of God. Together, they remind us that our lives as Christians are rooted in the confession of faith and the call to serve one another in love. Let us strive to live out this faith in our daily lives, seeking to be humble leaders and faithful disciples, always mindful of the rock upon which our Church is built—Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.