Daily Bible Verse 101: Who do you say that I am?

Saturday, August 26, 2023

Who do you say that I am?

You Christian, Who do you say that I am?

"Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and 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.”

"Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ." (Matthew 16: 13 - 20).

Sunday August 27th 2023 in the 21st Week of Ordinary Time.

Who is Jesus Christ to me?

Since I interact with Jesus every day in Prayer, Word of God, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Examination of Conscience, Spiritual Reading and Ministry, shame on me if I am unable to say who Jesus Christ is to me.

Here is my answer to the question You ask O Jesus.

You are my Lord and my God. You are my Savior and my Redeemer.
You are my best Friend and constant Companion.
You are Emmanuel who is always with me, in me and for me.

Our Gospel of today is key to understanding Ecclesia, Assembly, Church (all meaning the same thing) that Jesus Christ has set up.

Jesus asked His disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered for the Twelve:

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus said to Peter 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.” (Cf Matthew 16: 13 - 20).

Jesus builds His Church on rock of Peter's Confession. A Church that is defined as:

+ The People of God.

+ The Body of Christ.

+ The Temple of the Holy Spirit.

A Church which manifests these characteristics:

#1. Pillar and Foundation of truth.

#2. Always under attack by the Enemy.

#2a. Victorious and Invincible.

#3. Missionary and Catholic.

#4. Infallibility in doctrine by Peter and his successors.

#5. Hierarchy and sacred priesthood.

#6. The Church of the Eucharist.

Do you love the Church? Saint Augustine writes, “We, therefore, receive the Holy Spirit if we love the Church, if we are joined together by charity, if we make the Catholic name and faith our joy. Believe it, brethren, to the extent that one loves the Church, to that extent he has the Holy Spirit within him”.

"Yes, here I was speaking of the Eucharist, the gift of My abiding presence to My Bride, the Church, and this until the end of time. Not one soul who belongs to Me is left friendless in this world so long as the Church continues to do what I commanded on the night before I suffered, in memory of Me. The Most Holy Eucharist is not only My Sacrifice offered to the Father, although in a bloodless manner; it is not only the sustenance of souls, nourishing them with My very Body and Blood; it is also the Sacrament of My divine friendship, the pledge of My burning desire to remain close to all who seek Me, to all who need Me, to all who would spend time in My company." IN SINU JESU page 54)

August is the Month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mary says: "In the end. My Immaculate Heart will triumph."