YOU ARE THE CHRIST

7 AUGUST 2025

THURSDAY OF THE EIGHTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

YOU ARE THE CHRIST

Introduction

      Water is a necessity of life, highly appreciated particularly by men living in an arid country, like the Jews, or as they experienced in the desert on their weary way to the Promised Land. Water easily becomes the symbol of God, who is at the same time both a firm, reliable rock and life-giving water. Faith in this rock is demanded.

      Jesus faces his apostles with the question “Who am I?” Peter, in the name of all, professes that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, even though probably there is no direct recognition here yet of his divinity, but rather of his divine origin. After this “confession,” the Lord gives Peter his mission as head of the apostolic college and of the Church. Now that they know who he is, he can tell them also of his passion, death and resurrection. Yet, this seems too much at that time: Peter protests. His faith is not strong enough. He thinks still in human terms. We profess to know who Jesus is. But do we too not think too often in merely human ways?

Opening Prayer

Our living God,
we too profess that Jesus is your Son,
that he came from you and went back to you.
We thank you for our faith
that we have received as a gift from you.
But forgive us when it becomes difficult for us
always to follow Jesus on his way of suffering and death,
even though we believe that it is the way to glory.
Help us to think and live in your way,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Reading: Nm 20:1-13

The whole congregation of the children of Israel
arrived in the desert of Zin in the first month,
and the people settled at Kadesh.
It was here that Miriam died, and here that she was buried.

As the community had no water,
they held a council against Moses and Aaron.
The people contended with Moses, exclaiming,
"Would that we too had perished with our kinsmen in the LORD's presence!
Why have you brought the LORD's assembly into this desert
where we and our livestock are dying?
Why did you lead us out of Egypt,
only to bring us to this wretched place
which has neither grain nor figs nor vines nor pomegranates?
Here there is not even water to drink!"
But Moses and Aaron went away from the assembly
to the entrance of the meeting tent, where they fell prostrate.

Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them,
and the LORD said to Moses,
"Take your staff and assemble the community,
you and your brother Aaron,
and in their presence order the rock to yield its waters.
From the rock you shall bring forth water for the congregation
and their livestock to drink."
So Moses took his staff from its place before the LORD, as he was ordered.
He and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock,
where he said to them, "Listen to me, you rebels!
Are we to bring water for you out of this rock?"
Then, raising his hand, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff,
and water gushed out in abundance for the people
and their livestock to drink.
But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
"Because you were not faithful to me
in showing forth my sanctity before the children of Israel,
you shall not lead this community into the land I will give them."

These are the waters of Meribah,
where the children of Israel contended against the LORD,
and where the LORD revealed his sanctity among them.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

(8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.

R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.

R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tested me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."

R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Alleluia: Mt 16:18

Alleluia, alleluia.
You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: 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 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.

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 Jesus 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."

Intercessions

–   That the Lord Jesus Christ may be and remain the cornerstone on which our lives are built, and that we may build up the Church by our loving and dedicated service, we pray:

–   That we may learn from Jesus to commit ourselves to the service of God and people totally and without conditions, we pray:

–   That those who see little meaning in life may discover in the Lord Jesus and his gospel how rich and meaningful their life can be, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
we profess that Jesus, your living Son,
will be present among us
in these signs of bread and wine.
Let him strengthen us with his Spirit
to follow him wherever he leads us,
even through pain and death,
that with him we may share
in your glory and lasting joy.
For he is our Lord for ever.

Prayer after Communion

God of power and might,
your Son Jesus Christ has come here among us
without any display of power
but rather as the humble servant
of his brothers and sisters.
Let those who bear in the Church
the burden of authority
become more like your Son.
Unconcerned about power and prestige,
may they reflect the attitude of your Son,
who came not to be served but to serve.
Let this be their way to become great
in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Blessing

You are the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the living God. This is our profession of faith too, and it changes all of our life. To Christ we belong, we are his disciples. May we be good disciples, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Commentary

You are the Christ

The evangelist places the scene in Caesarea Philippi, a place known for the abundance of vegetation, fruits, a fertile land developed by Philip, one of the son of Herod. This locality was formerly called Panias because it was believed that, in this corner of paradise, the pagan God Pan and the Nymphs had established their residence. Philip built a beautiful city here and named it Caesarea, in honour of the emperor Tiberius Caesar. The place offered all the luxuries and happiness of the world. The two names of Caesar and Philip were combined to create the name of the land as Caesarea Philippi. It is here Jesus chooses to question his disciples.

To those who believe in Philip, he offered all the luxuries and joys of life. What does Jesus offer? Can Jesus assure something better than Philip? So he questions, “who do people say that I am?”

People regarded him as one of the eminent personalities, like John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the ancient prophets (vv. 13-14). Their admiration for Jesus in undeniable. However, the respect and veneration are not sufficient to be regarded as his disciples.
Therefore, the more intimate question: “Who do you say that I am?”

When Peter makes the profession of faith, he is perhaps not aware of what it implies. The continuation of the conversation clearly shows that Peter, in fact, did not understand anything about Christ. Peter’s understanding of the Messiah must have been of a god who behaved like Pan and the Nymphs.
Jesus renamed Simon— as Cephas- in Aramaic and it does not mean rock, rather it simply meant “construction stones.” The rock on which the Church is built is Christ himself, and the profession of faith by Peter and all the believing community is the stone with which the Church is built. All those who, like Peter and with Peter, profess this faith, are the living stones which construct the Church of God.
The expression “the gates of hell” represents the power of evil. They indicate all that is opposed to life and works of God. Jesus assures that nothing can prevent the church from completing its mission of salvation.
Peter also receives the keys and the power to bind and loose. The rabbis often use these two images. The rabbis were convinced that they possessed the “keys of the Torah” because they were familiar with the Scriptures. They believed that everyone had to depend on their doctrinal decisions and judgments
Jesus takes away this key from them, which they appropriated abusively and now hands it over to Peter. He is not assigned to be the doorkeeper of paradise. Instead, Jesus tells him to “become an example to the flock” (1 P 5:3, to open wide the entrance to the knowledge of Christ and of his gospel to everyone.
The one who passes through the door opened by Peter with his profession of faith encounters salvation; those who refuse remain excluded.

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7 August 2025

Matthew 16:13-23

“Who Am I to You?”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks a deeply personal question: “Who do you say I am?” This is not a theological quiz; it is the question of a lover asking for the heart of the beloved: “Who am I to you? What place do I hold in your life?” It is a question that pierces our daily routines and devotions and challenges us to examine the foundation of our faith. Are we following Jesus to become simply “better people”? Or are we ready to commit our whole lives to His radical vision of a renewed humanity?

Peter responds, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” His answer is correct, but his understanding is still clouded by worldly ideas of a powerful Messiah. He sees a conquering hero, not the suffering Servant. Yet Jesus blesses him—not because he grasped everything perfectly, but because his heart was open to the Father’s revelation.

Jesus then calls him “Peter” and speaks of building His Church not on human strength, but on the firm foundation of revealed faith. Christ is the true rock (Greek: petra); Peter is the first stone (petros) placed in this living structure. The Church is built on faith in Jesus, not on worldly power.

Jesus also speaks of the gates of the netherworld, evoking the kingdoms of evil—corruption, violence, and despair—that seem impenetrable. Yet the Gospel has power. If we trust in Christ, we become heralds of a love that breaks down these gates. But we must open wide the door, as Peter was entrusted to do—not to control who enters, but to lead all to Christ.

Jesus entrusts this Church—His Body—to us. He invites us not only to profess with words but to discern with wisdom, live with courage, and follow Him even when the path is difficult. Who is Jesus to you? Your answer changes everything.

“Who Am I to You?” - Youtube