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.”
My response to this reading is a follow-on from the last week of readings. A theme that has weaved through is beware of hypocracy. People hide behind labels.... What they preach and what they do can be mis-matched. Find truth and follow it the best you can. Be reflective and identify your own failures. Ultimately, God builds his kingdom on a core set of foundational values. To be part of that mission, you must adopt those values. Upon that truth Christ build's his church.
ReplyDeleteYour response to Matthew 16:13-19 effectively captures the essence of the passage's warning against hypocrisy and the importance of aligning our actions with our professed beliefs. The concept of "beware of hypocrisy" resonates strongly with the theme of authenticity and integrity that has emerged from the recent readings.
ReplyDeleteThe distinction you draw between "what they preach and what they do" highlights the need for congruence between our words and deeds. True discipleship extends beyond mere intellectual assent to teachings; it demands a commitment to embody those teachings in our daily lives, demonstrating the transformative power of faith through our actions.
Your call to "find truth and follow it the best you can" underscores the importance of seeking truth with sincerity and openness. This pursuit of truth involves self-reflection, acknowledging our own shortcomings, and striving to live in accordance with the values we hold dear.
The assertion that "God builds his kingdom on a core set of foundational values" aligns with the notion that God's kingdom is not about power or status but about embodying love, compassion, humility, forgiveness, and other virtues that reflect the divine essence.
The observation that "to be part of that mission, you must adopt those values" emphasizes the personal responsibility we bear in contributing to God's kingdom. It is not enough to simply admire or appreciate these values; we must actively incorporate them into our lives, making them the foundation of our character and actions.
The concluding statement that "upon that truth Christ builds his church" underscores the centrality of truth and integrity in building a just and compassionate society, a reflection of God's kingdom on earth. It is through our commitment to truth, authenticity, and living by God's values that we can contribute to the building of a better world.
In essence, your response to Matthew 16:13-19 effectively reinforces the importance of aligning our actions with our beliefs, embracing the values that form the foundation of God's kingdom, and living a life of integrity that reflects the transformative power of faith.