Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle, February 22, 2024

Gospel

Mt 16:13-19

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.”

Reflection

What really stands out to me, is when Jesus says, "For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father."

We hear about these stories, these true stories where the prophets and the saints have actually communicated in some way with God in heaven.

For example, Moses and the Ten Commandments and Abraham being called to go to a new land, from the Old Testament. Then there are the disciples in the New Testament who actually got to walk with Jesus and learn from Him. But did they communicate with God the Father? We know Jesus did, and He would go and pray to His Father often. And here in this Gospel we can see that Jesus lets Peter know that His Heavenly Father has revealed information to Peter.

Because of Peter's faith, Jesus can build His Church. It is the faith of the saints the leads them to communicate with God the Father. What is the health status of my faith? In our Holy Spirit Dekaena by St. Alphonsus, there is a quote from Theodore, "Prayer, though but one, can do all things." He who prays receive all he wants. God desires to give us his graces; but he will have us pray for them." Do I make the effort to talk with Jesus daily? Do I believe that Jesus hears me when I pray?

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle. This feast commemorates the teaching authority of the Vicar of Christ. Please join me in praying for our Pope and the authority he has over the church, here is the PAPA Prayer for Priests.