DAILY- HOMILY

August 27, 2017 - 21st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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Is 22: 19 - 23 / Rom 11: 33 - 36 / Mt 16: 13- 20

FROM THE FIRST READING:          Is 22: 20- 23

     On that day I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah. I will clothe him with your robe, I will strengthen him with your girdle, I will give him your authority, and he will be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the people of Judah. Upon his shoulder I will place the key of the House of David: what he opens, no one shall shut; what he shuts, no one shall open. I will fasten him like a peg in a sure spot, and he will be a seat of honor in the house of his father.

2nd READING:   Rom 11: 33- 36

     How deep are the riches, the wisdom and knowledge of God! His decisions cannot be explained, nor his ways understood! Who has ever known God's thoughts? Who has ever been his adviser? Who has given him something first, so that God had to repay him? For everything comes from him, has been made by him and has to return to him. To him be glory forever. Amen.

GOSPEL READING:           Mt 16: 13- 20

     After that Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi. He asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is? Who do you say I am?" 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 (or Rock) 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 what you unbind on earth shall be unbound in heaven." Then he ordered them not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

REFLECTION

     In the Gospel reading, at a sort of climax of his public ministry, Jesus asked his disciples who the people thought he was. The people had varied ideas on who he was: John the Baptist or one of the prophets of old.

     When asked directly who they thought he was, the impulsive Peter answered for the disciples, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Pleased with Peter's answer, Jesus promised to build his Church on Peter (or Rock), with powers to bind or unbind for the good of the people of God.

     Peter's confession in Jesus as the Messiah was indeed a grace from the Father. Peter loved Jesus, though he would later betray him before simple maid­ servants. Repentant and confessing his love for Christ, Jesus would confirm him as head of the Church after the resurrection, "Feed my sheep." Peter and the

disciples would be further strengthened and supported by

the Holy Spirit in their work for the Church of Christ.

     We believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. May we never waver in this belief and, like Peter, his fellow apostles and numerous others in the history of the Church, may we be faithful followers of Christ and missionaries of the Good News of Jesus to all.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY 

     ALETHEA S. ESPIRITU

     HAZEL INA IMPERIAL TAN

     LUIS CHUA

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

   |  distributed free and for personal use only.  

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