<p><em>Too often when we think about Jesus we recall the phrases we memorized as young children: son of God Messiah second person of the Blessed Trinity. But beyond theology and Church teaching todays reflection asks: Who do I say Jesus is? And am I willing to say that not only with words but with actions?</em></p><p><strong>August 27 2023: Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A</strong></p><p>Isaiah 22:19-23</p><p>Psalm 138:1-2 2-3 6 8</p><p>Romans 11:33-36</p><p>Matthew 16:13-20</p><div><div class=titan__email-divider>&nbsp;</div></div><p><strong>Who Is Jesus To Me?</strong></p><p><em>A reflection by David Jackson</em></p><p>For me the most important part of this Sundays Gospel is Jesus question: Who do you say I am? My answer goes something like this:&nbsp;</p><p><em>Jesus I have found myself at a point where you are my teacher and guide.&nbsp;Your life and teachings are the main focus of my following you not your death and Resurrection.&nbsp;I believe your historical activity was essentially about politics and restructuring society. I believe that religion and theology were not the dominant themes of your preaching. For me the vertical me and God is not where my attention lies. Instead my focus is on action to be a resister like you in my horizontal living with others to restructure society so that it better reflects your love in the world.</em></p><p>Todays gospel also contains a reference (as Roman Catholics typically understand it) to the primacy of Peter among Jesus followers. This has traditionally been seen as a Biblical antecedent to the doctrine of Papal Infallibility. Matthew seems to go out of his way to emphasize the primacy of Peter. There had to be something going on in the early church for Matthew to be so preoccupied with this most fallible of disciples.</p><p>Between 13:53-17:27 Peter is mentioned 10 times. He is regularly mentioned as the spokesperson for the Apostles. Also Matthew has three Peter stories not found in Mark nor anywhere else in the New Testament.</p><ul><li>Peter walking on the water (14:29);</li><li>Peter pronounced as rock (16:17-19);</li><li>Peters discussion of the Temple Tax (17:24-27).</li></ul><p>In todays gospel passage Jesus is in the northernmost region of Israel Caesarea Philippi a city rebuilt by Herods son Philip who renamed the city after himself and the emperor. Jesus questions his disciples and when he asks: ...but who do you say I am?&nbsp;Peter answers You are the Messiah the son of the living God. Jesus blessing of Peter plays on the meaning of his name Petros (which can also mean rock) and counters the worship for which Caesarea Philippi was known: a popular sanctuary to the god of nature Pan with <a href=https://dignityusa.app.neoncrm.com/track//servlet/DisplayLink?orgId=dignityusa&amp;&amp;&amp;linkId=13893&amp;targetUrl=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=64764>a large rock-faced cliff</a>. The author of Matthew was using Jesus blessing of Peter to distinguish Christians from the pagan worship of Romans and to promote rock-like fidelityfrom Peter and the whole community of disciples.</p><p>Previously in Matthew Jesus had been spoken of as Messiah but Jesus does not introduce the idea that he would be a messiah who suffers and dies until after this passage. Matthews narrator reveals this for the first time in the verses immediately following todays gospel: From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem&nbsp;and suffer many things&nbsp;at the hands of the elders the chief priests and the teachers of the law&nbsp;and that he must be killed&nbsp;and on the third day&nbsp;be raised to life. This revelation of the type of messiah Jesus would be signals a major turning point in the narrative. Recall that after the first Passion prediction Peter rebukes Jesus and in turn is rebuked by Jesus Get behind me Satan! You are an obstacle to me (Matt 16:23).</p><p>APPLICATION TO TODAY:&nbsp;The Roman Catholic Church has given selective use of Matt 16:17-19 at the expense of Matt 18:17-20.&nbsp;One of the key issues of the&nbsp;First Vatican Council&nbsp;(1869-70) was the doctrine of Papal Infallibility. The declaration of which was heavily dependent on Matt 16:17-19 as supporting Scriptural evidence. The Second Vatican Council broadened the doctrine of infallibility to include Ecumenical Councils and the infallible teaching of the whole college of bishops. This council also highlighted laity and discussion after the Council gave increasing emphasis to the <em>sensus fidelium </em>the wisdom of the Tradition held by the church as a body. According to this doctrine revelation also works from the ground up from the beliefs of the faithful as a whole not only as understood through the teachings of Jesus and the Bible but also as inspired by the Holy Spirit who guides the faithful within (or beyond?) the framework of the Churchs Magisterium. Post-conciliar theology has also given much discussion to the development of doctrinethat our understanding of discipleship and Church must change and grow with our lived circumstances in the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>I believe Catholics would be surprised to learn that Matt. 18:18 repeats 16:19 except that the verbs are plural. Jesus says to the disciples as a group Truly I say to you&nbsp;(pl.)&nbsp;whatever you&nbsp;(pl.)&nbsp;may bind upon the earth will have been bound in heaven and whatever you&nbsp;(pl.)&nbsp;&nbsp;loose upon the earth will have been loosed in heaven. Here all the followers of Jesus are given the same promise given to Peter in 16:19. We as the Church have the same powers of binding and loosing the same interpretative gift of discernment the same capacity to forgive and free. As members of the Church have we claimed these powers given to all the Body of Christ? Have we used our sacred powers to free others from shame and guilt and to live responsibly with our own divinely offered agency? All of which may be to rephrase the question Jesus asks at the beginning of todays gospel: Who is Jesus to me? And am I willing to be that same Jesus to everyone else?</p><div><div class=titan__email-divider>&nbsp;</div><div class=titan__email-divider><img src='https://www.dignityusa.org/sites/default/files/david_1.png'></div></div><div class=mobile-full><div class=mobile-full><em>As a Catholic priest for 48 years<strong>&nbsp;David Jackson</strong>&nbsp;preached on most Sundays. Binding the Strongman: A Political Reading of Mark's Story by Ched Myers has been his go to for Cycle B Mark. His love of Scripture led him to pursue an M.A. from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. For the past 16 years he has sent out homily reflections to friends. For the last two years these reflections have also been available on Roman Catholic Women Priests Canada's bimonthly newsletter. Since he discovered Catholic Women Preach that web site is part of his weekly preparation. At 82 years of age he has been married for the last ten years to the love of his life Alva. In March he published his first book Jesus Gardens Me available on Amazon.</em></div></div><p style=text-align: center;><a class=btn btn-primary href=https://dignityusa.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/dignityusa/subscribe.jsp?subscription=8>Subscribe to Breath of the Spirit</a></p>