August 24, 2014

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Isaiah 22:19-23

   Thus says the LORD to Shebna, master of the palace:  I will thrust you from your office and pull you down from your station. On that day I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah; I will clothe him with your robe, and gird him with your sash, and give over to him your authority. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open. I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot, to be a place of honor for his family."

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Responsorial Psalm: 138:1-2.2-3.6,8
Response: Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.
   I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise; I will worship at your holy temple.  (Response)
   I will give thanks to your name, because of your kindness and your truth: When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me. (Response)
   The LORD is exalted, yet the lowly he sees, and the proud he knows from afar. Your kindness, O LORD, endures forever; forsake not the work of your hands. (Response)

Second Reading: Romans 11:33-36

   Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor?" "Or who has given him anything that he may be repaid?" For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 16:13-20

   Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and 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 Messiah, 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." Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Messiah.

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
   People consider Jesus to be Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Their search could lead them till there only. But Peter replied Jesus saying that he was the Messiah. This knowledge is the result of the revelation. It is not the fruit of his search rather it is given from above, from the Father. Jesus also affirms Peter and tells him that this knowledge is from God. When one possesses God’s revelation then he becomes the rock of the Church.
   The kingdom is built on the faith which rooted on revelation. Faith and revelation together form something like a rock which cannot be shaken. Any person who has his faith on the revelation is the person on whom the church is built. A man with faith on revelation cannot be overcome by any force. Nothing can prevail him. Such a person will be like an entry point into the kingdom of heaven. He will be the link between heaven and earth.