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Commentary to the Gospel of August 8, 2024
You are the Christ
Caesarea Philippi was a beautiful city developed by Philip, one of the sons of Herod. Philip offered all the luxuries and happiness of the world to the inhabitants of this city and named it Caesarea in honour of the emperor Tiberius Caesar. It is here Jesus chooses to question his disciples.
People’s admiration for Jesus is undeniable. However, respect and veneration are not sufficient to become a disciple of Jesus. Therefore, Jesus asks them an intimate question: “Who do you say that I am?”
When Peter professes his faith in Jesus as “the Messiah, the Son of the living God,” his concept of the Messiah is of a god who is powerful to defeat all the enemies of Israel and bring about complete happiness in life, similar to the promises made by Governor Philip to the people of Caesarea Philippi.
Jesus called Simon as Cephas, which simply meant “construction stones.” The declaration of faith made by Peter that day and the faith of every disciple of Jesus would become the living stones that build up God’s Church.
Peter receives the keys to the Kingdom and the authority to bind and lose. In Jesus’ time, the scribes and teachers of the law were seen as having the «keys of the Torah». However, in the Gospel today, Peter is not appointed as a gatekeeper of paradise. Instead, Jesus instructs him to «become an example to the flock» (1 Peter 5:3) in order to open the entrance wide to the knowledge of Christ and his gospel for everyone.
The one who enters through the door of the Word of God, opened by Peter and the apostles with their profession of faith, will find salvation; those who refuse will remain excluded.