23rd August, 2023 (21 Sunday Ordinary A)

Dear Brothers and sisters,

In todays Gospel Christ reveals to his apostles who he is. Christ asks them in fact: “who do people say the Son of Man is?” and “who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter is the one who inspired by the Holy Spirit says: “You are the Christ the Son of the living God.” Christ then blesses Peter and puts him as head over the Church saying: “you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it…” Peter is the one that will be entrusted with the keys to open and to close the kingdom of heaven. We see also for us that God gives us the Church and Peter, the Pope, as head of the Church. The Church has the gift of recognizing the truth and Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit defends the Church against the snares of the devil and all the false doctrines and heresies   have come about throughout history. In todays society there is in fact a growing relativism where the concept of “man” constantly changes and everyday gets further away from the truth that Christ brings us. The Church is called to proclaim to the world Jesus Christ as the only truth, the one that truly loves us and can save us, opening heaven for us, by his forgiveness of sins. Christ defeats sin and death for us. Makes of the Church with Peter a rock where the devil cannot win because we are united to the love of Christ. Against this growing and false relativism Christ wants to give us faith telling us that he will always pray for us and specially for Peter our Pope and his Church that is us.

Peace Fr. Nicholas