Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Matthew 16: 13-23
August 07, 2025 | Thursday

Today’s Gospel

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.”

Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

From that day, Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem; that he would suffer many things from the Jewish authorities, the chief priests and the teachers of the law; and that he would be killed and be raised on the third day.

Then Peter took him aside and began to reproach him, “Never, Lord! No, this must never happen to you!” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path. You are thinking not as God does, but as people do.”

Today’s Reflection

Moses, presented as the “trusted and friend” who sees God face to face, falters in the last moment as the people of Israel draw near the promised land. The sins in Meribah and Massah prevented him from entering the promised land. He faltered to trust in the Lord and relied on his power to produce water from the stone, which echoes the sin of pride. It is good to be reminded again to acknowledge our dependence on God and not rely on our capacity but rather on God’s providence when dire circumstances occur.

There were two Caesarea in the NT times; one was Alexandria, and the other was in Philippi. It was in the latter that Peter’s impulsive and vacillating personality was put into place. The affirmation of Jesus as the messiah would only come from the Father. On the other hand, the contrary happens when he receives immediate rebuke (get behind me, Satan) from Jesus for not immediately understanding the mission of that affirmation and confirmation as the messiah. In other passages, Jesus repeatedly rebuked his disciples for misunderstanding his mission. Peter’s full “confession and rebuke” only shows the disciple’s human side and commissioning. The disciples are human beings who, like us, are also prone to temptation. Despite that, Peter was entrusted with authority and the foundation of the Church.

Often, we have the same attitude as Moses and Peter: erratic but faithful, sinner but zealous to God. There are moments when we lose and deny God’s grace and presence because of circumstances and sins. What is consoling is to know that God always opens His arms, albeit rebuking us, to return to Him.

/Vulnerasti, 2025