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Gospel Reading for February 22, 2025 – Matthew 16: 13-19
FROM HEAVEN
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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So, from Peter the first Pope, came a succession of Popes, to whom the keys to the Kingdom of heaven was passed, and at present, his 266th successor is Pope Francis.
We call our Pope “Holy Father” not for his own merit, because the source of holiness is God. We use the word holy for things that are associated with God. Hence, we call the Church holy as Christ is the Head of the Church, and the Pope being the Vicar of Christ, we call “Holy Father.”
A lot of us grew up getting used to being a member of the Catholic Church, because our parents were the ones who decided to have us baptized (except for adult baptism, or for converts). But, do we get the most out of being a member? Do we realize that through the Church we receive so much of divine grace? When we go to Mass, do we remember what Jesus said, “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst”(Matthew 18: 20)? Isn’t it amazing that at every mass, through the Holy Spirit, Jesus is made present to us even after he had gone back to the Father?
This is exactly what Jesus wanted when he made Peter the rock upon which his Church will be built, and assuring him that the efforts of the devil will be futile against it because the authority he gave Peter is FROM HEAVEN!
We pray that Pope Francis be able to recover from his present ailment so he may continue the mission to which he is called. We also pray for all our priests, that they may always lead us to Christ, our Head.
