＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

1 Peter 5:1-4

 Beloved : I now address myself to those elders among you;

I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ, hoping to share the Glory that is to be revealed.   Shepherd the flock which God has entrusted to you, guarding it not out of obligation but willingly for God’s sake; not as one looking for a reward but with a generous heart;  do not lord it over those in your care, rather be an ex­ample to your flock.   Then, when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will be given a crown of unfading glory.

 

Ps 23:1-3a, 4, 5, 6

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 16:13-19

After that Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi. He asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of man is?” They said, “For some of them you are John the Baptist, for others Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

 Jesus asked them, “But you, who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “It is well for you, Simon Bar­jona, for it is not flesh or blood that has revealed this to you but my Father in heaven.

 And now I say to you: You are Peter (or Rock) and on this rock I will build my Church; and never will the powers of death overcome it.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and what you unbind on earth shall be unbound in heaven.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

Jesus is now famous all over Israel. People have formed an opinion of Him. He now wants to know what people think of Him. Here the apostles tell Him that He is ranked among the prophets of old. Some people think of Him as Elijah, the mightiest of all prophets of old.

Some think He is John resurrected. Many could not make heads or tails regarding Him. But His disciples know Him. Simon Peter proclaimed Him Messiah, the Son of God. With this knowledge comes great responsibility. Thus He gave Simon Peter the ministry of shepherding the new community that will be born from His Word and Eucharist.