As we approach the end of the liturgical year, in today’s Gospel reading, we hear the question that Jesus asks all of us, “Who do you say that I am?”
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ And 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. And 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. I 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.’ Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. (Mt. 16: 13-20).
Who do you say that Jesus is? What is your relationship with Jesus? Are you distantly acquainted with Jesus or are you very close? In today’s reading, Peter comes up with the right answer, but he did not come up with it on his own. Rather, it was through God’s grace that Peter came to know that Jesus was the Messiah. You and I come to Jesus through the grace of God. We have to be open to God’s grace. Being open to the grace of God deepens our relationship with Jesus. Who do you say that he is?
Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially all of our Veterans on this Veterans Day, for those seeking work, for those who are ill, for the lonely, for those fighting addictions, and for those who have no one to pray for them.
“A heavenly light more brilliant than all others sheds its radiance everywhere, and he who was begotten before the morning star and all the stars of heaven, Christ, mighty and immortal, shines upon all creatures more brightly than the sun.” —Hippolytus of Rome (c.170-c.236)
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ And 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. And 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. I 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.’ Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. (Mt. 16: 13-20).
Who do you say that Jesus is? What is your relationship with Jesus? Are you distantly acquainted with Jesus or are you very close? In today’s reading, Peter comes up with the right answer, but he did not come up with it on his own. Rather, it was through God’s grace that Peter came to know that Jesus was the Messiah. You and I come to Jesus through the grace of God. We have to be open to God’s grace. Being open to the grace of God deepens our relationship with Jesus. Who do you say that he is?
Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially all of our Veterans on this Veterans Day, for those seeking work, for those who are ill, for the lonely, for those fighting addictions, and for those who have no one to pray for them.
“A heavenly light more brilliant than all others sheds its radiance everywhere, and he who was begotten before the morning star and all the stars of heaven, Christ, mighty and immortal, shines upon all creatures more brightly than the sun.” —Hippolytus of Rome (c.170-c.236)
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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