21st Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A
Sunday, August 27, 2023
The Gospel of Matthew opens with the genealogy, birth, and childhood of Jesus. Next comes a period of preparation for ministry as Jesus gets baptized by John then tempted by Satan. Jesus then takes residence at Capernaum by the sea as He begins His ministry in Galilee, calling the disciples, preaching, and performing miracles. This leads us to today’s Gospel reading of Peter’s confession about who Jesus is. It is a turning point in the life of Jesus and His disciples. Up to that point, Jesus performed signs and wonders, and some even called Him the Christ. But here, now for the first time, we read of His disciples acknowledging that Jesus is the Christ. He establishes His church and gives instructions to continue his work. Note that Jesus’ humanity is asserted as He uses Son of Man to refer to Himself. He asks, who am I? Simon Peter affirms that Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus lauds him for this profession of faith.
The three things we learn from Jesus’ response to Peter’s proclamation are central to who we are and continue to be as church to tis day. Peter’s answer to the question was revealed to him by God the Father, Jesus establishes His church in the world, and gives Peter special authority. (Matthew 16:17-19). That is, it is God who gives wisdom, the church belongs to Jesus, and Peter was appointed head of the church by Jesus.
On August 21, 2023, the Archdiocese of San Francisco filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. Civil lawsuits filed against US dioceses by individuals who brought claims for childhood sexual abuse caused more than two dozen US dioceses including six of the eight New York State dioceses to file for Chapter 11. The Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn have not filed for bankruptcy. The challenges and struggles faced by the church today are not only financial. So, it is important to be reminded that the universal church is Christ’s church, and it will stand forever. “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.” Matthew 16:18.
The church is also Christ’s body. “The Church” is the People that God gathers in the whole world. She exists in local communities and is made real as a liturgical, above all a Eucharistic, assembly. She draws her life from the word and the Body of Christ and so herself becomes Christ’s Body. (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], 1997, para. 752)
What does it mean for us that we as church are Christ’s body? We are a part of this church community, but we are not just members of a club, or mere spectators. We are accountable for more and we are called to continue the ministry Jesus started. The survivors of abuse need our compassion and prayers, and so does our universal church. Let us examine our conscience and prayerfully reflect on what we individually are called to do as Christ’s church and to continue his ministry in the world.
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.