Twenty-first Sunday   Gospel A

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"  

· Caesarea Philippi was situated about twenty miles north of the Sea of Galilee in the territory ruled by Philip, a son of Herod the Great, tetrarch from 4 B.C. until his death in A.D. 34.  Philip rebuilt the town of Paneas and named it after the emperor and himself.

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?" 

· If Jesus would ask you the same question, what would you answer? If Jesus asked you that question ten years ago, what would have been your answer?

Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

· Peter acknowledges Jesus under two titles: Messiah (the anointed promised One who would redeemed Israel) and Son of the living God. This is the first clear profession of faith in Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew.

· Have we made a personal, public confession of Jesus like Peter did? Do people know where we stand in relationship to Jesus?

 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.

· Do you remember a time in your life that you received a revelation or thought and later realized that it was from God?  What did you do with it?

 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." 

· How does this promise of Jesus impact you personally?

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

· What segment of this reading speaks to you?