Gospel: August 7, 2025
August 7, 2025 (Thursday)
18th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 2 (Green/Red/White)
St. Cajetan, priest
St. Sixtus II, pope, and companions, martyrs
Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
1st Reading: Numbers 20:1-13
Gospel: Matthew 16:13-23
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.”
Reflection:
“You are the Messiah.”
Our sources of media nowadays are flooded with conflicting opinion and fake news, sometimes leaving us wondering who to trust. But truth is always supported by facts, and so, to show that our statements are reliable, we provide evidence. Likewise, we use a variety of methods to prove someone’s identity, including the testimony of a close relative. Today’s Gospel describes the rumors about Jesus that were circulating at the time.
The people give conflicting opinions, but they lack solid evidence. So, Jesus asks his disciples. Will they be able to say something true and reliable about him? Will they be able to recognize who he is? Peter replies, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” He is telling the reliable truth, which is not based upon the opinion of flesh and blood, that is, of other people, but on the testimony of God the Father himself, through a personal revelation. Our acceptance of Jesus as Son of God is built upon the testimony given by the apostles and by Christ himself in his miracles, his teaching, and his death and resurrection. This is the evidence. So, who do you say the Son of Man is?
