MY daily reflection and prayer:
Monday, February 22, 2016
The Second Week of Lent
Feast of the Chair of St. Peter
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. Matthew 16:13-19
Jesus says, “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
TODAY is Feast of the Chair of St. Peter. As we read in the Gospel when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he said Peter, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! 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. 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.” Based on this word we believe that Jesus had chosen Peter as both the leader and the servant of the Church of Christ.
In today’s Gospel, we read that Jesus points Peter for he professes that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. So, in turn Jesus tells him that this knowledge comes from God the Father. It doesn’t come from the world. Recognition of Jesus as the Christ needs faith. It is an act of faith.
Jesus gave Peter the key of the kingdom of heaven. It’s a symbol of authority. He gave him, as the first pope. He had authority from God through Jesus Christ to serve his people. It’s not an imposition but rather a service.
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist we worship Jesus Christ who gives us his blessings. There we love and live our faith as an expression of our personal relationship with him.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, keep us from ever growing cold in our faith. Grant us a renewed appreciation for the gift of papal authority now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
