SOLEMNITY OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL, SATURDAY JUNE 29, 2024

MASS READINGS

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

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

In the Gospels Jesus used the term “Son of Man” 102 times, the term “Son of God” was used 76 times ( 65 times by Jesus). Jesus proclaimed that God was his father 54 times.

Only in Matthew do we hear “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”. Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, was able to express the Truth.

Advance a few years and we find ourselves in Lanciano, Italy in the year of 700 AD. A priest monk of the Order of St Basil was celebrating Mass. He had several doubts about the transubstantiation ( the bread and wine changing substance to the living Body of Jesus). Having spoken the words of Consecration, the host suddenly became a circle of flesh and the wine became living blood.

You can imagine the tears of joy of the priest at the affirmation of what He knew, then doubted, and now was visible in front of His eyes!

The flesh and blood were identified to be of human origin, blood type AB. The Good Lord has allowed us to see for ourselves the incarnate word of the living God, His Son. May our faith be as strong for us to say, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”.

God bless you.