Jesus Christ Is Lord!
Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 22:19–23 / Psalm 138:8bc / Romans 11:33–36 / Matthew 16:13–20
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Reflecting on the Word
By Dr. Karla J. Bellinger
Imagine that you are Judas Iscariot in this scene. You stand beneath the cliffs at Caesarea Philippi. Streams of water flow past lush growths of fig trees. This is one of Jesus’ favorite places of peace, a retreat from the stark heat and the politics of Jerusalem. Yet in the midst of this Roman city of pagan worship, your heart is not at peace. Jesus asks you all, “Who do you say that I am?” You’ve been pondering that question yourself. You hope for a rich intellectual discussion now.
Who does Peter think that he is? The big fisherman butters up the carpenter from Galilee by blurting out, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Come on, Peter. That is pretty radical stuff—how can you say that? It has been an incredible journey, true. We’ve seen bent limbs made straight, the blind see, crazy people restored to their right minds . . . Jesus is a good guy, no mistake, but the Messiah? He might lead a revolution and set our nation free. Or he might not. He’s hard to read. He might be useful. But he’s unpredictable. Not easy to manipulate.
Look at the way Jesus is exalting Peter, the lumbering lout. “Keys to the kingdom? Rock?” No way. Judas has been trying to get the others to follow his lead, but they keep looking to Simon for leadership. He’s the least qualified to lead this group—impulsive, inconsistent, a big mouth, runs when things get tough. Nothing firm about him, certainly no “rock.” Why doesn’t Jesus turn to you—you’ve got a good head for figures, you plan ahead, you have a passion to get things done. Peter? None of those qualities. Jesus turns and looks at you. His eyes search yours, “Who do you say that I am, Judas?”
Consider/Discuss
- Is God “useful” to us? Do we feel we have to stand on our own or is Jesus our “Lord”? Or is it sometimes both? What does it mean to say with our whole heart that someone else, not us, is in charge of our lives and our parish communities, that “Jesus is Lord”?
- In the Gospels, Peter is sometimes portrayed as inept. But when the Holy Spirit descended upon him at Pentecost, he became highly qualified to do what he had to do. Do we ever use Peter’s example to excuse our weaknesses, permitting ourselves to slack off from being effective in human endeavors? Or do we allow the Holy Spirit to strengthen us so that we grow skilled in our discipleship?
Living and Praying with the Word
God of the Church, unless we see things from your perspective, we don’t always know the difference between wisdom and foolishness, especially in institutions. You see our brokenness. You know the times when we have used the things of faith only for our own advantage. Forgive us for that. Purify us so that your Spirit can flow through us more virtuously. We pray for the Church. Holy Spirit, unite what is fragmented and bring us together. Thank you for that hope of a new day when all will be one.