Daily Readings - Sat Feb 22 2025
1 Peter
1To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed:2Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Matthew
13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will 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.