Daily Readings - Sat Feb 22 2025
1 Peter
1So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:2shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;3not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.4And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Matthew
13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"14And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."15He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"16Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."17And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed 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.