Monday of the First Week
Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle
In the Gospel reading for today, the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, we find that Jesus asks two questions of His disciples. First, Jesus asks the disciples what people are saying about Him. Second, Jesus puts the question more directly to the disciples by asking them what they believe about Him. This prompts each of us to reflect on what we know about Jesus and then who we believe Jesus to be. In the first instance, our faith may be only at the level of information, that is, what we say about Jesus and who we say Jesus to be. In the second instance, however, faith takes on a more personal reality in that it brings us to the existential question of where or in whom we place our trust right now.
The questions that Jesus asks His disciples challenge us each day. Our faith can become nothing more than the knowledge we have about who Jesus was and what He did, the stuff of textbooks or encyclopedias. It is when we come to the second question that we begin to find ourselves called out to make a commitment and to choose a way of living. In the end, we all need to realize that it is not what we know that will save us. It is placing our lives in the hands of Jesus and walking the way of Jesus that leads to eternal life.
Lord, we place our lives in Your hands this day and ask that You help us to follow Your way. Help us to trust and believe in You as the Lord and Savior of our lives. Amen
Fr. David Théroux, S.S.E. ’70, Instructor in the Religious Studies Department
First Reading: 1 Peter 5:1-4
Psalm 23:1-3a-6
Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19
Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website
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