The Son of the Living God

Homily for the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today’s passage from St. Matthew’s Gospel tells us of the occasion when Jesus asked his disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” In the chronology of St. Matthew’s Gospel, we have reached the turning point in the mission of Jesus. He draws ever closer to the city of Jerusalem, the destination of a journey which will end atop Mount Calvary. Jesus is aware that his time has come. Through the question he poses to his disciples, Jesus is questioning himself. He has been sent by the Father with a specific mission. Has he accomplished that mission? The answers that he receives seem to indicate that he has failed in his mission. If people think that he is John the Baptist, risen from the dead, or one of the prophets, then he has not adequately communicated his identity to the crowds who have listened to him. However, Simon is able quell any misgivings that Jesus may have when he speaks up rather forthrightly and says: “You are the Messiah, the son of the living God.”

This scene is part of the three synoptic Gospels. Saints Matthew, Luke, and Mark all record this incident. However, St. Matthew includes a detail that is missing in the Gospels of St. Luke and St. Mark. We are told at the very beginning of this passage that Jesus has taken his disciples to the region of Caesarea Philippi. Archaeologists have discovered that this region was known for a shrine of the pagan God, Pan or Faunus. Being a rustic god, Pan was not worshipped in temples or other built edifices, but in natural settings, usually caves or grottoes such as the one at Caesarea Philippi. Surrounded by images of this pagan and dead god, the words that St. Matthew puts in the mouth of Simon are all the more telling. “You are the Messiah, the son of the living God.

Jesus goes on to compliment Simon for his answer while at the same time admitting that Simon could not have known this unless it had been revealed to him by the Father. Simon is often associated with making impetuous statements. However, at this juncture of St. Matthew’s Gospel, Simon not only answers correctly, but he also convinces Jesus that he has succeeded in the mission that he was given. As a result, Jesus says: “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.” He goes on to say that he is giving Simon Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven, investing him with authority to govern. To this day, we look to our Holy Father the Pope as the rightful authority of the church.

In his Letter to the Romans, St. Paul also asks a question: “For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor?” By confirming Simon Peter in his ministry as the foundation of the church, we state unequivocally in the Nicene Creed that we believe in the holy Catholic Church, founded upon Simon Peter and the other apostles, and filled with the Holy Spirit who inspired Simon Peter’s answer. Each Sunday, as we recite the words of the Nicene Creed, we echo the voice of Simon Peter as we say: “I believe in God, the Father Almighty. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life. We join ourselves to the community which was founded upon the rock that we know of as Simon Peter who was chosen by Jesus himself to lead our community as it continues its journey to the Kingdom of Heaven, where we will live with our God for all of eternity.