August 23, 2026
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20

Today is the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Gospel passage taken from the Gospel of Matthew presents us with a conversation between Jesus and His disciples as they arrived at Caesarea Philippi. Let us attempt to reflect on this dialogue.

First, Jesus 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.” (cf. Mt 16:13-14)

People identified Jesus as John the Baptist because, like John, He proclaimed the Kingdom of God to the world. The difference, however, lies in this: while John preached a baptism of repentance, the baptism Jesus proclaims truly brings salvation. Through the blood from His sacred side, we are cleansed of our sins and our souls and bodies are healed of the wounds inflicted by original sin. Others said Jesus was Elijah because His words burned as fervently as Elijah’s. Jesus Himself said, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (cf. Lk 12:49). They compared Him to Jeremiah because, like the prophet of old, He brings comfort and joy to the Jews of His time and to us today. The comfort and joy He brings is this: anointed by His Holy Spirit, we receive the oil of gladness and become children of God. Furthermore, by receiving His Body and Blood, we are united with Him and share in His very life.

Next, Jesus asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (cf. Mt 16:15-16)

Peter’s response stemmed from his lived experience. When he met Jesus at Lake Gennesaret and Jesus boarded his boat, Peter listened to the Lord speak of the Kingdom. He left everything behind to follow Jesus and experienced the reality of that Kingdom. He witnessed Jesus raise the dead, cast out demons, and heal every disease. Consequently, he no longer viewed Jesus through merely human eyes, but rather through the guidance and illumination of the Holy Spirit. Thus, when Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” He spoke on behalf of the Twelve Apostles, offering a bold and definitive response.

Finally, Jesus said to him, “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.” (cf. Mt 16:17-19)

This is truly an invitation, and even more so, a great commission. Jesus invited Peter to assist Him in shepherding His Church and bestowed upon him the twofold authority to “bind” and to “loose.” Today, we are in communion with Saint Peter’s successor—our Pope—and with the successors of the Apostles who share this communion with Peter—our Bishops—as well as with the priests who assist them in pastoral care. United with them in the same faith, we share one Baptism in the Lord Jesus Christ, one anointing of the Holy Spirit, and in the one Eucharist, we receive the one Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, thus living in communion with Jesus Christ. In this way, we must not only observe all the commandments God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai, but even more so, we must adhere to the precepts taught by the Church—one, holy, catholic, and apostolic—which Christ established upon Saint Peter. All of this helps us, at the end of our earthly lives, to enter safely into the Kingdom of Heaven of which Jesus spoke. This Kingdom is composed of God who loves and those who are loved by God. All who dwell in this Kingdom, together with the heavenly hosts and under the guidance of the most Blessed Virgin Mary, shall behold the radiant face of the Most Holy Trinity, and unceasingly praise and glorify the Lord with countless angels, for ever and ever.

O God, who cause the minds of the faithful to unite in a single purpose, grant your people to love what you command and to desire what you promise, that, amid the uncertainties of this world, our hearts may be fixed on that place where true gladness is found. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,God, for ever and ever

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica