First Reading (1Pt 5,1-4).
Reading of the First Letter of Saint Peter.
Dear friends, I exhort the priests who are among you, I, a priest like them, a witness to the sufferings of Christ and a participant in the glory that will be revealed: Be shepherds of the flock of God, entrusted to you; take care of him, not through coercion, but with a generous heart; not out of filthy greed, but freely; not as domineering over those entrusted to you, but rather as models for the flock. Thus, when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the permanent crown of glory.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Matthew 16,13-19).
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, Jesus went to the region of Caesarea Philippi and there he asked his disciples: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say it is John the Baptist; others say it is Elijah; still others say it is Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Then Jesus asked them, “And you, who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Responding, Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, because it was not a human being who revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. Therefore I say to you that you are Peter, and in this matter on stone I will build my Church, and the power of hell will never be able to overcome it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven; “.
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today we are called to reflect on one of the deepest truths of our Christian faith: the role of leadership in the Church and the foundation of the Church of Christ. The readings we heard today lead us along a path of understanding the nature of Christian leadership, authority, and how we should live our faith in community, under the guidance of the Lord. What we see in the First Reading, taken from the First Letter of Peter, and in the Gospel of Matthew, is a call to humility, firmness and fidelity.
In the First Reading, the apostle Peter speaks directly to the elders, that is, the spiritual leaders of the Church, giving them guidance on how they should lead the flock of God. He says: “Feed the flock of God that is among you, not by force, but willingly, as God wants; not for filthy gain, but with a ready heart, not as lords over those entrusted to you, but as models for the flock” (1Pt 5:2-3). Peter offers us a vision of leadership that is very different from the world’s vision of power. He calls us to leadership based on service, humility, love and care.
My brothers, think for a moment: how many models of leadership do we have in the world today that are guided by the imposition of authority, the desire for power, or the exploitation of those under leadership? However, Peter reminds us that a true Christian leader does not seek his own glory, but rather the glory of God. He must be an example, he must be someone who cares and serves with love, patience and generosity.
This vision of leadership challenges us to look at our own lives. All of us, in some way, are called to be leaders – whether in our family, at work, in the community or even within ourselves. How are we leading? Are we leading with a heart toward God, being models of faith and virtue? Or are we seeking, in some way, power and control over others?
This call to humility and service is perfectly reflected in Jesus’ response to Peter in the Gospel of Matthew, when He asks the disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of Man is?” (Mt 16,13). It is interesting to note that Jesus begins by questioning popular opinion. Many say He is John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets. But then, He asks Peter directly: “And you, who do you say that I am?”
And Peter, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, responds: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” (Mt 16,16). This response from Peter is the cornerstone of our faith. Peter, in the name of the apostles and the entire Church, recognizes the true identity of Jesus: He is the Messiah, the Son of God. It is at this moment that Jesus declares: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church” (Mt 16:18).
Here, brothers and sisters, Jesus lays a solid foundation for the Church, grounded in the faith of Peter. He does not say that the Church will be built on Peter in his humanity, but on the faith that Peter expressed. The faith he declared is the firm stone upon which the Church will be built. And, as we know, this faith cannot be shaken, as it is the truth revealed by God.
Through Peter, Jesus gives us the guarantee that the Church, guided by faith in Christ, will be unshakable. No matter what happens throughout history, the difficulties, the challenges, the persecutions or the attempts to destroy the Church – it will remain firm because it is founded on the Rock, which is Christ.
Now, let us reflect: just like Peter, we are also called to recognize who Jesus really is for us. When Jesus asks us, “And who do you say that I am?” He is not just asking the apostles, but each one of us. Who is Jesus to you? Is He, in fact, the Christ, the Son of the living God, the Savior of your life?
This question is not just a theological reflection, but an invitation to personal transformation. If Jesus is truly the Christ for us, that means our lives should reflect this truth. We cannot say that Jesus is Lord of our lives and continue living the same way we lived before. Faith in Christ calls us to conversion, to change our attitude, to the search for holiness.
It is important to highlight that Jesus not only founded the Church on Peter’s faith, but also entrusted him with an immense responsibility. He says: “I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven; Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Mt 16:19). Jesus gives Peter the power to bind and loose, that is, the authority to teach, govern, and forgive sins in His name. This authority is given not so that Peter places himself above others, but so that he, as a servant, can guide God’s flock with the same compassion, patience, and love that Christ demonstrated.
These words of Jesus are not exclusive to Peter. Through his succession, this authority was passed on to popes and bishops over the centuries. They have the responsibility to care for the Church, to preserve the faith and to be spiritual guides for the people of God. But more than that, all of us, as members of the Church, are called to live out this authority in a personal way, living according to the principles of Christ in our everyday lives.
My brothers, the Church is not a structure of power and domination, but a community of faith and service. We are all called to be leaders of one another, to serve and care for one another. The Lord calls us to truly be His disciples, not just in words but also in actions. Each of us has a mission within the Church, whether as a leader or as a follower, and we are all called to build the Church with faith, hope and love.
I invite you, then, to take a moment of introspection. Ask yourself: How am I being a leader in my life? Am I being an example of faith, hope and love? Am I caring for those God has placed in my path? Am I living the truth we profess in our faith?
As we leave here today, let us remember Peter’s words and the faith he proclaimed: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” And may this faith be the foundation of our lives, guiding us in everything we do. May we, like Peter, be living stones in the construction of the Church of Christ, grounded in His truth and His love.
May God’s grace strengthen us to live our faith with courage and fidelity. Amen.
