Daily Word Of God
Matthew 16:13-19
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said, ‘who do you say I am?’
Then Simon Peter spoke up and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’
Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a blessed man! Because it was no human agency that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my community. And the gates of the underworld can never overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- When Simon Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” Jesus affirmed that it is the grace of His Father in heaven who revealed this to him.
- When God favoured Peter, He expected much more from him than the other disciples. Jesus made him the “rock” the leader of the group and the Church that He set up. He had to be strong and be a witness for others.
- Likewise, when we are blessed abundantly, we too are called to be strong and be God’s witnesses to those who are longing for the deeper Truth in the life that Jesus is offering them. Are we living in this way?