TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, AUGUST 23, 2026

MASS READINGS

Gospel 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 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." 

Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

REFLECTION

As Catholics we are very familiar with this passage of the Bible where Jesus grants him "the keys of the Kingdom": where He names him His Vicar on earth.

The first reading from Isaiah, in verse 22:22 also tells us that: "I will place the key of the House of David on Eliakim's shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open." These keys represent an office that survives the individual, implying successors.

Now, did you know this is not the only passage Jesus gives Peter a special place amongst the other disciples?

Catholic apologist Joe Heschmeyer, in his book "Pope Peter" defends the Papacy from the angle of many Old and New Testament passages.

For example, in Mt 17:27 Jesus instructs Peter to catch a fish, inside of it there was a coin worth 2 times the tax. Tells him to only pay Jesus' and Peter's tax with it.

Luke 5 and John 21 mirror each other. The first one is the call of Peter and the latter in the post resurrection.

The author goes on to explain and help refute the arguments some people have against the papacy, and further on the Church scandals.

I truly recommend Joe's books and his podcast, "Shameless Popery". I personally know people that have joined the Catholic Church after listening to his podcast and reading his books. We really need to support each other in the search for the Truth and in defense of the Church.

In the light of this shameless popery, keep our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV in your prayers. It is easy to criticize those in the spotlight. And he, more than anybody else, needs our prayers to be the shepherd of souls that God has asked him to be for us.

God bless y'all!