Daily Gospel Reflection
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August 27, 2023
Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and
he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Then he strictly ordered his disciples
to tell no one that he was the Christ.
In today’s gospel, Jesus asks Peter, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter responds by professing his belief that, above all varying opinions others may hold, Jesus is the Son of Man. In response to Peter’s profession of belief, Jesus gifts Peter with a new name, Cephas (rock), that also declares his papacy and leadership among the apostles.
This interaction between Peter and Jesus sets an example for our own lives as Christians who, through baptism, are blessed by name and become adopted into the Body of Christ. From baptism, we are nourished with Christ’s Body and Blood in the Eucharist while professing our belief each time we set foot in the liturgy.
Through confirmation, we are even gifted with a new name of a disciple who intercedes for us on our journey to sanctification. Through all this, we receive sacramental graces that enflame our hearts to contribute our gifts to the church.
Through the beauty of our sacraments and our profession of belief in Christ’s church, we are named and chosen by God to go forth in service to the church on earth just as Peter did. Even as he stumbled and denied Jesus three times, he continued his mission of building a church rooted in the truth that Jesus is the Son of Man who suffered death and was buried, rose again, and ascended into heaven. In doing so, Jesus granted us new life so that we may also obtain the keys to the kingdom of heaven.
This gospel can not only be seen as the call to Peter as the first Pope but also a call to all of us in the church, in our varying orders, ministries, and vocations, to proclaim and act upon the Good News of the firm foundation that is set before us so that others may come to know the Son of Man and receive his endless love and mercy until he comes again.
Prayer
Jesus our teacher, you challenged your disciples to know you more intimately, and so come to recognize you as the Christ. Help us never to be content with our knowledge of you, but always to desire to know and love you more. Bring our hearts to rejoice in Peter’s confession that “You are the Christ”—our salvation and the fulfillment of our lives. Amen.
Saint of the Day

St. Monica was, above all, a stubborn mother.
She was married at a young age to an adulterous government official with a violent temper. Years of Monica’s patience and prayer converted him to Christianity just before he died. She prayed unceasingly for her children as well, especially for her brilliant but wayward son, Augustine. Priests learned to avoid her because of her persistence in asking for prayers for him.
She followed Augustine as he pursued studies in Carthage and Rome, praying at shrines and chapels the whole way. They both finally arrived at Milan, where they met St. Ambrose. It was under Ambrose’s guidance that Augustine fulfilled his potential and became one of the most brilliant writers and thinkers the Church has ever known. After 17 years of constant prayer, Monica saw her son baptized when he was 32; St. Augustine’s feast day is tomorrow.
St. Monica is the patron saint of alcoholics, victims of abuse and adultery, widows, and mothers facing family difficulties. Her relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica. Her story and image are used by high school students who come to campus for a summer conference with the Notre Dame Vision program.
St. Monica, your prayer brought your family to Christ, pray for us!
Image credit:
illustration by Julie Lonneman and used with permission.