21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
Is 22:19-23
Ps 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8
Rm 11:33-36
Mt 16:13-20
Hello, I’m Franciscan Father Greg Friedman, with the “Sunday Soundbite” for the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time.
In 1995, former Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara re-ignited debates over the Vietnam War with his book, In Retrospect. In the book, McNamara revisited his role in the American involvement in Vietnam, and concluded that he and other leaders failed to come to grips with the reality of the situation, both at home and in Vietnam. Whether one agrees with McNamara or not, his book is a fascinating study of political leadership.
Today’s Gospel deals with leadership in the Church. Jesus calls Peter “the rock,” on which Christ will build his Church, and he promises Peter the “keys to the kingdom of heaven.”
This Sunday, I suspect many Catholics will think of the papal transition, which took place after the death of John Paul the Second. That event focused the world’s attention on the papacy, and connects directly with this Gospel story.
Matthew’s account reminds us that the Church, while established in the here-and-now, points to a further reality. Our faith is incarnational—it is rooted in both the human and the divine.
Unfortunately, we often concentrate on the human aspects: The temporal business of the Church sometimes preoccupies all of us, including our leaders. The challenge of God’s Word today is to keep a “heavenly” perspective in our understanding of leadership and service—for all who have that role in the Church.
Scripture:
•…when he opens, no one shall shut (and) when he shuts, no one shall open. (Isaiah 22:22)
•The LORD is exalted, yet the lowly he sees, and the proud he knows from afar. (Psalm 138:6)
•How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! (Romans 11:33b)
•For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. (Matthew 16:17)
Reflection:
•Is God revealed or understood?
•Is faith blind or logical?
•Is the basis of faith built on love?
•Is there any way to understand the rationality of love?
There is no greater way in which God can communicate with us than on the level of pure faith. This level does not register directly on our psychic facilities because it is too deep. God is incomprehensible to our facilities. We cannot name Him in a way that is adequate. We cannot know Him with our mind; we can only know him with our love. That is what some mystical writers call unknowing. It is by not knowing Him in the ways that we now know Him, that we do know Him. Visions, locutions or ecstasies are like frosting on a cake. The substance of the journey is pure faith.
Ps 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8
Rm 11:33-36
Mt 16:13-20
Hello, I’m Franciscan Father Greg Friedman, with the “Sunday Soundbite” for the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time.
In 1995, former Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara re-ignited debates over the Vietnam War with his book, In Retrospect. In the book, McNamara revisited his role in the American involvement in Vietnam, and concluded that he and other leaders failed to come to grips with the reality of the situation, both at home and in Vietnam. Whether one agrees with McNamara or not, his book is a fascinating study of political leadership.
Today’s Gospel deals with leadership in the Church. Jesus calls Peter “the rock,” on which Christ will build his Church, and he promises Peter the “keys to the kingdom of heaven.”
This Sunday, I suspect many Catholics will think of the papal transition, which took place after the death of John Paul the Second. That event focused the world’s attention on the papacy, and connects directly with this Gospel story.
Matthew’s account reminds us that the Church, while established in the here-and-now, points to a further reality. Our faith is incarnational—it is rooted in both the human and the divine.
Unfortunately, we often concentrate on the human aspects: The temporal business of the Church sometimes preoccupies all of us, including our leaders. The challenge of God’s Word today is to keep a “heavenly” perspective in our understanding of leadership and service—for all who have that role in the Church.
Scripture:
•…when he opens, no one shall shut (and) when he shuts, no one shall open. (Isaiah 22:22)
•The LORD is exalted, yet the lowly he sees, and the proud he knows from afar. (Psalm 138:6)
•How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! (Romans 11:33b)
•For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. (Matthew 16:17)
Reflection:
•Is God revealed or understood?
•Is faith blind or logical?
•Is the basis of faith built on love?
•Is there any way to understand the rationality of love?
There is no greater way in which God can communicate with us than on the level of pure faith. This level does not register directly on our psychic facilities because it is too deep. God is incomprehensible to our facilities. We cannot name Him in a way that is adequate. We cannot know Him with our mind; we can only know him with our love. That is what some mystical writers call unknowing. It is by not knowing Him in the ways that we now know Him, that we do know Him. Visions, locutions or ecstasies are like frosting on a cake. The substance of the journey is pure faith.
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10:12 PM
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