Say you were doing your weekly grocery shopping, and a reporter doing random interviews for a Christian radio show came up to you and said, “Who do you say Jesus is?”
Reflect upon today’s gospel reading from Matthew, and how your way of being in the world can help show, as well as tell, who Jesus is and why Jesus matters.
Sometimes it is better to preach the gospel without words, because it’s not the right time to simply tell – you know the saying: “preach the gospel. If necessary, use words.”
Gospel Reading Matthew 16:13-20
13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
