Gospel Reflection June 29 – Deacon Paul Zemanek
Sunday, June 29
The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
Matthew 16:13-19
Gospel:
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Gospel Reflection:
In today’s Gospel, it offers us some of the most profound questions in all of scripture where Jesus first asked his disciples a fairly easy question when he asked, “Who do the people say that the Son of Man is?”
And then Jesus asked his disciples a “harder” question, a “more important” question, “But who do you say that I am?” Now, we might think of this as being an easy question. For we learned that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. We all know this from our Sunday school days. But Jesus wants more from us as He wants us to answer this question not just with our minds but with our hearts, our souls, and with our lives.
Friends, how do you answer the most important question ever asked? Who do you say that Jesus is? For if Jesus himself were to ask you that question, how would you answer it? Is your life reflecting that answer? Do you respond like the people, or do you respond like Peter? For your answer will set the course for your life. That answer matters more than anything else in this world.
Deacon Paul Zemanek
