Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today the Church celebrates the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time. The assigned readings are Isaiah 22:19-23, Romans 11:33-36, and Matthew 16:13-20. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 138 (Psalm 138:1-3, 6, 8).

Today’s Gospel reading is as follows:

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"

They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Reflections related to these readings:

A Concord Pastor Comments: Keys of the Kingdom (21 AUG 11)

Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio: Peter, the Pope and the Bible

Dr. Scott Hahn: ‘Oh, the Depths!’ (August 21st, 2011 - 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time)

The Word Embodied: Rock of Ages

The New Theological Movement: If Christ is the rock, can Peter also be the rock? (20 AUG 11)

And, in today’s Daily Ignatian Reflection from the Magis Institute, Father Michael W. Maher, S.J., writes:

“Around the base of the inner dome of St. Peter's in Rome, a section of today's reading is boldly proclaimed in Latin in 15 foot letters, set against a background of a glittering gold mosaic. This magnificent portrayal of the words, "you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church," seem slightly incongruous to the track record of the man himself.

“By corporate standards, Peter would not even make a paper cut, much less an interview, for the position of running an organization which we know as the Roman Catholic Church. Yet in spite of Peter's weaknesses, God's grace prevails and continues to prevail within his, and our human frailties.

“Today's reading reflects a common theme within the Gospels of how God works through the small and insignificant to advance the Kingdom. Recall the mustard seed, the small amount of leaven, and the light on a lamp stand, all small in themselves but vehicles for transformation.

We may not be called to be a pope, but we are called to advance the kingdom of God using our gifts and God's grace. In that we all are like Peter on whom Christ built his church; weak but willing with the help of God to do what we can.