News & Events
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Posted in News
23rd August 2026
Gospel; Matthew 16, 13 – 20
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Phillippi he put this
question to his disciples, Who do people say the Son of Man is? And
they said, “Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others
Jeremiah or one of the prophets”. But you, he said “Who do you say I
am?” Then Simon Peter spoke up. You are the Christ” he said, the Son
of the living God”. Jesus replied, “Simon, son of Jonah, you are a
happy man! Because it is not flesh and blood that revealed this to you
but my Father in Heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and, on
this rock, I will build my church. And the gates of the underworld can
never hold out against it. I will give to you the keys of the kingdom
of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in
heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in
heaven”. Then he gave his disciples strict orders not to tell anyone
that he was the Christ.
______________________________
Homily
My dear sisters and brothers, there are always moments in life when
Parents or church leaders or directors of businesses must make
announcements, which they think are necessary for the good or the
development of the enterprise. I remember, I must have been around 14
or 15 when my father at a family meeting, one evening told us that he
was going to England to study for one year. He had read of some
developments in the education of children with learning difficulties
and as the principal of a school, He thought it necessary that he
develop his understanding of new insights in this area of education.
We all thought that it was a great idea, but when he told us that our
mother was going to join him in London after a few months, our
enthusiasm waned.
The Gospel reading given to us for our reflexion this Sunday
is a similar moment. I wonder what Peter’s reaction at that moment
was. There were occasions when others among the disciples wanted that
position for themselves, but Jesus had been preparing the disciples
for the task that they were going to have, among other things Jesus
had told them that contrary to what most people thought the leader had
to be the servant. At this moment however, Peter who had being
probably coming to the conviction that Jesus had been sent by God,
expressed this conviction that Jesus, was the Christ, the Son of the
living God. Jesus then told him that he, Peter was blessed because it
was God, the Father in Heaven who had revealed this truth to Him. This
revelation brought with it certain obligations. He, Peter had to be
the foundation stone of the Future community, Christ’s church, with
the power to bind and loose. In other words, Peter had to be Jesus’
“alter ego” or put in other words, Christ’s vicar here on earth.
All the above my dear sisters and brothers’ details for us the human
beginnings, always built on divine grace, of the sacred institution
which is our church. To be fully established however other especially
important things had to take place. The apostles and the other
disciples had to experience the self-giving love of Christ for all
humanity, a self-giving love that they, as leaders of God’s new people
would have to emulate and ensure that self-giving love became one of
the characteristics of the new community. They would have to
experience the last supper of Jesus with them and ensure that this
sacred meal would bind the new people of God together, wherever and
whenever it was celebrated. The apostles and other disciples with
Mary, Jesus’ mother, would have to live through the sorrowful and
pain filled days of the passion of Jesus and his death, before they
could experience their surprise and joy of understanding that the
crucified Christ had risen, that he was alive. In spite of their
initial doubts, they understood that Jesus, alive and risen, would now
be giving them final instructions before they experienced Jesus’
Assencion. They would have to recognize that their responsibility had
increased because Jesus was no longer physically present with them.
They would experience the gift of the Holy Spirit, strengthening them
with the grace of Christ and binding them together to form one people.
My dear brothers and sisters, the vocation of the new people of God,
was and is the restoration of the Garden of Eden, not in the exact
same way that it was in the beginning, but the harmony which existed
in the beginning, now had to be rebuilt. The Acts of the Apostles
tells us that after the coming of the Holy Spirit, “All who believed
were together and had all things in common and sold their possessions
and goods and parted them to all the people as everyone had need.” The
Acts of the Apostles also tells us that a couple who sold their
possessions but only gave some of it to the community while pretending
that they were giving everything lost their lives. My dear sisters and
brothers, the Acts of the Apostles gives us a format for the
development that humans have achieved to be the instruments that help
us to return to what God wished for us his people at the beginning of
creation, A Kingdom of Justice of Peace and of love. The building of
the Kingdom of Justice, Peace and Love is therefore a biblical
imperative.
All of us my dear people, who are concerned with the creating of a
more just society know that the work of the rebuilding of harmony is
not easy. The 2nd. Vatican Council, without using the word harmony
nevertheless began this task with its decision to seek to unite once
again, all those who follow the Christian scriptures and define
themselves as followers of Jesus Christ. Increasingly the church has
changed rules which now, under certain circumstances allow Christians
of other denominations who believe in the real presence of Christ in
the Eucharist, to participate with Catholics at Mass and eucharistic
services. Increasingly, Catholic bishops, including Popes and the
faithful belonging to religious communities visit refugee camps to
bring the necessities of life to refugees fleeing the atrocities of
was and hunger. Pope John Paul 2. Intervened when Argentina and Chile
were about to go to war over a territorial dispute and achieved peace.
Pope Francis before he died wrote the beautiful encyclical, “Laudate
Si”, urging the world to take seriously the problems that are
affecting natural resources. The Church cannot but speak out against
the abuse of nature. We cannot and must not allow greed to disrupt the
harmony which God wants for the world. As Catholics, and all people of
good will, how do we share God’s concern for the world? The first
question which me must ask is; Do I really believe that the God we
worship is a God of harmony? Three persons, Father, Son, and Spirit
existing in total harmony and remaining One God. This concern for
Justice, unfortunately has not been frequently taught in schools, nor
has it received the attention that many churches have denied it. I
remember as a young missionary working to help persons of few
resources getting together to solve some of their problems. I remember
one village in particular trying to live as the first followers of
Jesus did after the coming of the Holy Spirit, just as it is described
in the Acts of the Apostles. One night the army went in, surrounded
the village took all the men to jail, including the priests working in
that village, stopped the church workers from going in to help the
women and children left without Fathers and husbands, tortured those
in jail and said that they had to do what was done because it was a
communist village, and this in a supposedly catholic country. The
exploitation of the Poor always finds excuses. And that is why the
social doctrine of the church is its best kept secret.
The question for all of us my dear sisters and brothers is very
simple. Do we really believe that God created the world in his image?
If we do, then we understand that living in harmonious relationships
gives glory to God. Which Father does not want his child to be like
him? Do I believe that consciously destroying harmony is an offense
against God?
These are questions which must be taken seriously, for heaven is
harmonious relationship. If we agree with the above, then our lives
must demonstrate certain qualities which approximate the existence in
heaven to life on earth. How important it must be that our homes, our
communities, our churches be a foretaste of heaven.
How often my dear friends, at funerals
we hear relatives of the deceased stating that the deceased has gone
to a better place. Let us not forget that the better place is God’s
kingdom of Justice Peace and Love, and that going to that better place
demands of us a commitment to begin building it here on earth, in our
homes, our workplaces, our communities, and may our churches be the
driving force as we strive to live what we say we believe.
Prayer
All powerful and ever-loving God, You created a universe characterized
by Harmony and because you loved us, you gave us a home with all the
necessities for harmonious life. There was harmony with You, our
Father, there was harmony with nature, harmony with other human beings
and above all there was the internal harmony of every person.
Unfortunately, our first parents listened to the serpent and harmony
was destroyed. But in your love for us, you decided that our enemy the
serpent would not win and you created and sent the prophets and
ultimately your son to educate us and lead us back to you, so that
your Kingdom of Justice, Peace. and Love could be re-established and
harmony restored. We thank you Father for your love and for the graces
that you give us. We ask that you help us to be faithful. Amen
Gospel; Matthew 16, 13 – 20
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Phillippi he put this
question to his disciples, Who do people say the Son of Man is? And
they said, “Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others
Jeremiah or one of the prophets”. But you, he said “Who do you say I
am?” Then Simon Peter spoke up. You are the Christ” he said, the Son
of the living God”. Jesus replied, “Simon, son of Jonah, you are a
happy man! Because it is not flesh and blood that revealed this to you
but my Father in Heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and, on
this rock, I will build my church. And the gates of the underworld can
never hold out against it. I will give to you the keys of the kingdom
of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in
heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in
heaven”. Then he gave his disciples strict orders not to tell anyone
that he was the Christ.
______________________________
Homily
My dear sisters and brothers, there are always moments in life when
Parents or church leaders or directors of businesses must make
announcements, which they think are necessary for the good or the
development of the enterprise. I remember, I must have been around 14
or 15 when my father at a family meeting, one evening told us that he
was going to England to study for one year. He had read of some
developments in the education of children with learning difficulties
and as the principal of a school, He thought it necessary that he
develop his understanding of new insights in this area of education.
We all thought that it was a great idea, but when he told us that our
mother was going to join him in London after a few months, our
enthusiasm waned.
The Gospel reading given to us for our reflexion this Sunday
is a similar moment. I wonder what Peter’s reaction at that moment
was. There were occasions when others among the disciples wanted that
position for themselves, but Jesus had been preparing the disciples
for the task that they were going to have, among other things Jesus
had told them that contrary to what most people thought the leader had
to be the servant. At this moment however, Peter who had being
probably coming to the conviction that Jesus had been sent by God,
expressed this conviction that Jesus, was the Christ, the Son of the
living God. Jesus then told him that he, Peter was blessed because it
was God, the Father in Heaven who had revealed this truth to Him. This
revelation brought with it certain obligations. He, Peter had to be
the foundation stone of the Future community, Christ’s church, with
the power to bind and loose. In other words, Peter had to be Jesus’
“alter ego” or put in other words, Christ’s vicar here on earth.
All the above my dear sisters and brothers’ details for us the human
beginnings, always built on divine grace, of the sacred institution
which is our church. To be fully established however other especially
important things had to take place. The apostles and the other
disciples had to experience the self-giving love of Christ for all
humanity, a self-giving love that they, as leaders of God’s new people
would have to emulate and ensure that self-giving love became one of
the characteristics of the new community. They would have to
experience the last supper of Jesus with them and ensure that this
sacred meal would bind the new people of God together, wherever and
whenever it was celebrated. The apostles and other disciples with
Mary, Jesus’ mother, would have to live through the sorrowful and
pain filled days of the passion of Jesus and his death, before they
could experience their surprise and joy of understanding that the
crucified Christ had risen, that he was alive. In spite of their
initial doubts, they understood that Jesus, alive and risen, would now
be giving them final instructions before they experienced Jesus’
Assencion. They would have to recognize that their responsibility had
increased because Jesus was no longer physically present with them.
They would experience the gift of the Holy Spirit, strengthening them
with the grace of Christ and binding them together to form one people.
My dear brothers and sisters, the vocation of the new people of God,
was and is the restoration of the Garden of Eden, not in the exact
same way that it was in the beginning, but the harmony which existed
in the beginning, now had to be rebuilt. The Acts of the Apostles
tells us that after the coming of the Holy Spirit, “All who believed
were together and had all things in common and sold their possessions
and goods and parted them to all the people as everyone had need.” The
Acts of the Apostles also tells us that a couple who sold their
possessions but only gave some of it to the community while pretending
that they were giving everything lost their lives. My dear sisters and
brothers, the Acts of the Apostles gives us a format for the
development that humans have achieved to be the instruments that help
us to return to what God wished for us his people at the beginning of
creation, A Kingdom of Justice of Peace and of love. The building of
the Kingdom of Justice, Peace and Love is therefore a biblical
imperative.
All of us my dear people, who are concerned with the creating of a
more just society know that the work of the rebuilding of harmony is
not easy. The 2nd. Vatican Council, without using the word harmony
nevertheless began this task with its decision to seek to unite once
again, all those who follow the Christian scriptures and define
themselves as followers of Jesus Christ. Increasingly the church has
changed rules which now, under certain circumstances allow Christians
of other denominations who believe in the real presence of Christ in
the Eucharist, to participate with Catholics at Mass and eucharistic
services. Increasingly, Catholic bishops, including Popes and the
faithful belonging to religious communities visit refugee camps to
bring the necessities of life to refugees fleeing the atrocities of
was and hunger. Pope John Paul 2. Intervened when Argentina and Chile
were about to go to war over a territorial dispute and achieved peace.
Pope Francis before he died wrote the beautiful encyclical, “Laudate
Si”, urging the world to take seriously the problems that are
affecting natural resources. The Church cannot but speak out against
the abuse of nature. We cannot and must not allow greed to disrupt the
harmony which God wants for the world. As Catholics, and all people of
good will, how do we share God’s concern for the world? The first
question which me must ask is; Do I really believe that the God we
worship is a God of harmony? Three persons, Father, Son, and Spirit
existing in total harmony and remaining One God. This concern for
Justice, unfortunately has not been frequently taught in schools, nor
has it received the attention that many churches have denied it. I
remember as a young missionary working to help persons of few
resources getting together to solve some of their problems. I remember
one village in particular trying to live as the first followers of
Jesus did after the coming of the Holy Spirit, just as it is described
in the Acts of the Apostles. One night the army went in, surrounded
the village took all the men to jail, including the priests working in
that village, stopped the church workers from going in to help the
women and children left without Fathers and husbands, tortured those
in jail and said that they had to do what was done because it was a
communist village, and this in a supposedly catholic country. The
exploitation of the Poor always finds excuses. And that is why the
social doctrine of the church is its best kept secret.
The question for all of us my dear sisters and brothers is very
simple. Do we really believe that God created the world in his image?
If we do, then we understand that living in harmonious relationships
gives glory to God. Which Father does not want his child to be like
him? Do I believe that consciously destroying harmony is an offense
against God?
These are questions which must be taken seriously, for heaven is
harmonious relationship. If we agree with the above, then our lives
must demonstrate certain qualities which approximate the existence in
heaven to life on earth. How important it must be that our homes, our
communities, our churches be a foretaste of heaven.
How often my dear friends, at funerals
we hear relatives of the deceased stating that the deceased has gone
to a better place. Let us not forget that the better place is God’s
kingdom of Justice Peace and Love, and that going to that better place
demands of us a commitment to begin building it here on earth, in our
homes, our workplaces, our communities, and may our churches be the
driving force as we strive to live what we say we believe.
Prayer
All powerful and ever-loving God, You created a universe characterized
by Harmony and because you loved us, you gave us a home with all the
necessities for harmonious life. There was harmony with You, our
Father, there was harmony with nature, harmony with other human beings
and above all there was the internal harmony of every person.
Unfortunately, our first parents listened to the serpent and harmony
was destroyed. But in your love for us, you decided that our enemy the
serpent would not win and you created and sent the prophets and
ultimately your son to educate us and lead us back to you, so that
your Kingdom of Justice, Peace. and Love could be re-established and
harmony restored. We thank you Father for your love and for the graces
that you give us. We ask that you help us to be faithful. Amen
 |
|
