"But who do you say that I am?"

"Who am I to you?"

Mt 16:13-23

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 Messiah, 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 Messiah.

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.

Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, "God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you."

He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

Reflection:

       Our Gospel for today presents to us if how well we know our God. That is why he uttered and asks his disciples "Who do people say that i am?". Reflecting on this in our day to day life we might ask to ourselves who do people say that i am?

        Your family members would tell you who you are to them but how about other people? your friends?

         I am inviting you today to focus on our relationship with our Lord and our relationship with  our friends and other people. How well you know our Lord Jesus? and how well do you relate to your friends? probably you will tell me or answer this question that you know our God because you pray. Because our God provides your needs day to day. Have you seen God? or Have you seen God to others?

        I personally has the difficulty in knowing my God and acknowledging him in my life. I am like other disciples who sometimes doubt my God, especially when prayers are not answered. And the invitation to me is know him more not just in prayers but also look for him in simple events in my life and acknowledge him to other people. The Love of God and His Mercy is shared to all of us. Jesus gave to St. Peter the keys to heaven, entrusted to him a great responsibility that requires a good and constant relationship to our God.

        Others might give a comment or feedback against you. Take them lightly and reflect on them. Because their words somehow speaks of you whether its true or not according to your discretion. When you ask your friends "who do you say that i am?
" are they honest enough to tell you if who you really are? Take time to talk to them and ask them gently and you will be enlightened.

    Acceptance is the key to happiness.