GOSPEL READING: Matthew 16:13-20

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Reflection (you can modify the text but write it and record it) 

Jesus was widely recognised throughout Israel as a formidable man of God, often being likened to the greatest prophets – John the Baptist, Elijah, and Jeremiah. At a strategic juncture, Jesus challenges his disciples with a pivotal question: “Who do people say that I am, and who do you say that I am?”

Peter responded by affirming that He was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Peter’s proclamation solidifies Jesus as the promised Messiah, the Son of God destined to rescue his people from their sins.

Subsequently, Jesus imparts authority to Peter to oversee the Church He would establish – a Church impervious to any force, as it is anchored upon the bedrock of Christ Himself. The Apostle’s unwavering faith, rooted in the rock of Christ, remains resolute. The keys to the kingdom of heaven are bestowed upon him, signifying that his decisions on earth will be ratified in heaven, and his actions on earth will likewise be sanctioned in heaven.

The mission of the Church, and by extension, that of the Apostles, mirrors Jesus’ mission: to reinstate the Covenant between God and humanity, to bind and release, and to manifest the redemptive undertaking of Christ among people of all eras and locations. In this way, even on Earth, they will hold the keys to the kingdom of Heaven.

PRAYER Lord Jesus, we declare and embrace you as the Christ, the Son of the living God. You are our Lord and Saviour. Strengthen our faith as resolutely as Peter’s and grant us the bravery to bear witness to you before others, so that they may intimately acquaint themselves with you as Lord

Questions:

• Where did Jesus come when he asked his disciples about the Son of Man?
• What were the different opinions people had about the identity of the Son of Man?
• How did Jesus respond when the disciples mentioned the various opinions about the Son of Man?
• What question did Jesus then ask his disciples?
• What was Simon Peter’s response to Jesus’ question?
• What did Simon Peter confess about Jesus’ identity?
• How did Jesus react to Simon Peter’s confession?
• According to Jesus, who revealed the truth of his identity to Simon Peter?
• What did Jesus say he would build upon Peter?
• What did Jesus promise regarding the powers of death against his church?
• What did Jesus promise to give Peter?
• What authority did Jesus give to Peter regarding binding and loosing?
• After this conversation, what did Jesus command his disciples not to do?