Who is Jesus For You?

21st Sunday In Ordinary Time 
28 August 2017

First reading

Isaiah 22:19-23

Thus says the Lord of Hosts to Shebna, the master of the palace:

I dismiss you from your office,

I remove you from your post,

and the same day I call on my servant

Eliakim son of Hilkiah.

I invest him with your robe,

gird him with your sash,

entrust him with your authority;

and he shall be a father

to the inhabitants of Jerusalem

and to the House of Judah.

I place the key of the House of David

on his shoulder;

should he open, no one shall close,

should he close, no one shall open.

I drive him like a peg

into a firm place;

he will become a throne of glory

for his father’s house.

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Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 137(138):1-3,6,8

                

Second reading

Romans 11:33-36

How rich are the depths of God – how deep his wisdom and knowledge – and how impossible to penetrate his motives or understand his methods! Who could ever know the mind of the Lord? Who could ever be his counsellor? Who could ever give him anything or lend him anything? All that exists comes from him; all is by him and for him. To him be glory for ever! Amen.

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Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself,
and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled.

Alleluia!

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Gospel

Matthew 16:13-20

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said, ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’ Then he gave the disciples strict orders not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

Reflection

by Theresa Ballo

If you are one of the disciples surrounding Jesus when He asked, who am I for you? What will your answer be like? This, I think, was a very personal question for all of us and a relative one. Our answers may vary as we grow older and get a few experiences in life. In today’s Gospel reading, Peter receives the most significant call to a vocation, the keys to the kingdom and the leader of the Church. Since he had spent time with Jesus, his was a remark of faith and witnessing. He knows Jesus from the inside, knowing who He really is with the knowledge of the heart.

The joy of being called to service can be seen in the Gospel. Peter spent his life pursuing a much different path before receiving Jesus’ initial call to become His disciple. He could have continued his trade as a fisherman and raised sons or apprentices. Yet, God had other plans for Peter, though. He had been given necessary gifts with which to accomplish it through the Holy Spirit. It could be possible that the Lord put that in Peter’s heart and inspired him to confess it out loud. Peter discovered his vocation and has given affirmation. In spite of that, he is not perfect, like anyone of us. Out of fear he denied Jesus three times and then hid in shame when he realized what he had done. But through Pentecost, the Holy Spirit provided him the charisms necessary to complete his mission within the Church.  


So it goes with all of us, whatever our vocation happens to be. We will all make mistakes along the way. We will get tired, feel upset, and lose track in fulfilling it. We have to trust that the Lord calls us to a particular vocation in life. To determine what that might be for each of us, we must discern through prayer and action. For some, including me, it may mean exploring a path that we may never end up completing. That it all just happened for a detour so we can find the road which Jesus had prepared for us all along. It takes a lot of patience and prayer for all of us. Our vocation may not be as intense as Peter’s, but we all have to remember, that there is no vocation that is too small nor unimportant. It may mean as simple as leaving one person happier or worthy of love – that I think who Jesus is for me. He always makes me feel worthy of love and forgiveness. A minute with Him is a time to feel secured and happy, enough to refill my love tank, and give to others all that overflows.

Prayer

Almighty Father, we thank You for the gift of our vocation. Thank You for giving us purpose to live and take part in Your mission. Give us strength and peace as we journey towards fulfilling and completing our tasks. May everything that we do be for Your glory and not ours. This we pray in Jesus' most Holy name and with the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary. Amen.