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Gospel Reading for June 29, 2026 – Matthew 16: 13-19
FIRST CATECHISTS
Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi 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.”
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How important it is for us Christians to know and believe, deep within our hearts, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. It is through him that we come to know the Father and are able to enter into communion with him. We may profess that we believe in God, yet fail to firmly believe that Jesus is the only way to the Father.
Jesus repeatedly taught that he and the Father are one. One of the greatest blessings of the Incarnation is that, through Jesus, we come to know the true face of God—not through folklore, misconceptions, or merely human traditions, but through the very Son of God himself. In fact, Jesus suffered rejection and ultimately gave his life because the God he revealed was very different from the image of God held by many of the religious leaders of his time. They often emphasized a God who was harsh and quick to punish, whereas Jesus revealed a Father who is rich in mercy, compassion, and love.
One of the challenges we face today may be related to the fact that most Catholics are baptized as infants. Unlike catechumens, who undergo a period of formation before receiving Baptism, children depend largely on their parents to introduce them to the faith. They should not rely solely on what their children learn from religion teachers or catechists. This is why it is equally important for parents themselves to understand and live the Catholic faith.
Sadly, there are times when parents themselves have only a limited understanding of the faith, the liturgy, and the meaning of our religious practices. While it is beautiful to see an entire family attending Sunday Mass together, parents should also teach their children the sacredness of the Eucharistic Celebration. If children are allowed to treat the Mass as though it were simply another outing—with toys, snacks, and constant distractions—they may grow up without appreciating that they are in the real presence of Christ. Likewise, parents may teach their children that lying is wrong, yet contradict that lesson by asking them to tell a visitor or a bill collector, “My parents are not at home.” Children learn not only from what we teach them, but even more from what they see us do.
As St. Peter boldly professed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and St. Paul spent his life proclaiming that same truth to the nations, so too are parents called to be the FIRST CATECHISTS of their children. They are entrusted not only with teaching the faith but, more importantly, with witnessing to it through the example of their lives. As the saying goes, “Christians are not born; they are made.” Children become faithful disciples not merely because they were baptized, but because they are lovingly formed by parents who know Christ, love him, and strive to follow him.
Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?”, is also a question every parent should ask themselves. More importantly, they should ask: “Who do my children say that Jesus is?” The answer they give will depend greatly on what they have learned from us—not only through our words but through the witness of our lives.
Lord Jesus, we thank you for your immeasurable love for us, and above all, for revealing to us the true face of our Father in heaven. Help us to know you more deeply, love you more faithfully, and lead others—especially our children—to know and follow you!
