"A symbol of the special mission of Peter and his Successors to tend Christ's flock,

                   keeping it united in faith and in charity."  

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Peter 5:1-4

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; 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 whatever you unbind on earth shall be unbound in heaven."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"You are the Messiah."

"But you, who do you say I am?" Jesus' question is posed to all the disciples.

He receives a variety of answers, as they sit together,

and Simon Peter receives the God-given insight to recognize who Jesus is.

Thus, Peter replies, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

God has chosen him to be Rock on which Christ will build his Church.

 

For all his flaws, God has chosen Peter to be first among the disciples,

and first among the apostles, to act with authority given by Christ,

to act in his name (Acts 3:6). Today we celebrate the Feast of the Chair of Peter,

a feast which honors the role of the papacy in guiding and shepherding the Church along the way of Christ,

but this doesn't mean that the Pope is isolated in his leadership.

 

The Successor of Peter is to journey with all the faithful in communion, walking together in the Holy Spirit,

so that the Church might discern the Word of God. This is the way of synodality, which is not political compromise,

but a genuine search for the truth and for God's will, made in the communion of the whole Church.