Thursday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Or Optional Memorial of Saint Cajetan, Priest
Or Optional Memorial of Saint Sixtus II, Pope and Martyr, and his Companions, Martyrs
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.

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Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2025