Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle A
August 21, 2011
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Opening Prayer
First Reading: Isaiah 22:19-23
Psalm: 138:1-3, 6-8
Second Reading: Romans 11:33-36
Gospel Reading: Matthew 16:13-20
- This Sunday’s Gospel reading takes place in the mostly Gentile city of Caesarea Philippi, which was located about 20 miles north of the Sea of Galilee. Originally named Paneas, after the pagan god of shepherds, Pan, it featured a popular shrine to him carved into an immense rock cliff. Jesus chose this backdrop to make an important announcement.
- Jesus precedes his announcement by taking a kind of poll as to who the crowds were saying that he was. He listens to the various theories, mostly likening him to the prophets of old, especially Jeremiah, the suffering prophet, and Elijah, of who it was predicted, would return to announce the coming of Messiah (Malachi 4:5, or, 3:23 in the NAB or NJB).
- All are asked, but only Peter replies. Peter’s preeminence among the apostles is often highlighted in the gospels (Matthew 10:2; Luke 22:31-32; John 1:42; 21:15-18). Here Jesus will define that leadership role explicitly (verses 18-19) and as one that that will last as long as the Church exists (verse 18). The first Vatican Council, in defining the dogma of papal primacy and infallibility, specifically references this passage (Vatican I, Pastor aertrnus).
QUESTIONS:
- The 1st Reading describes the appointment of new chief steward, or prime minister, in the royal House of David. Why does it make sense that Jesus’ Kingdom would be foreshadowed by (and be the fulfillment of) that of his forerunner, King David?
- In the context of the 2nd Reading, how might you look upon some of the disasters that have befallen Christianity as potential blessings from the Holy Spirit? For example, how might the Holy Spirit use the secularization of modern American culture as a blessing for the Church rather than as a curse?
- Why did people think that Jesus was John the Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah?
- What was significant about Peter’s confession?
- How does the Church interpret the insight (verse 17), power (verse 18), and authority (verse 19) given to Peter? What are the “keys to the kingdom”? What do they “bind and loose”?
- What Greek word translate the Aramaic word Kepha (John 2:41-42)? Why is the change of Peter’s name significant, aside from the meaning of the name itself?
- When and how did you come to recognize Jesus as “Messiah, the Son of the living God”?
- In terms of the practical matters of everyday life, how do you answer Jesus’ question to Peter for yourself?
Closing Prayer
Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§ 424, 440-442, 552-553, 881, 1444-1445
Nothing was conferred on the apostles apart from Peter, but several things were conferred upon Peter apart from the apostles.
–Pope Leo XIII, Satis Cognitum