Twenty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time
Massimo Palombella
In today’s Gospel (Mt 16:13-20) Jesus poses an essential question to his disciples, “Who do you say that I am,” and to Peter’s answer, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” he immediately gives Peter himself a profound identity, a great horizon: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church….”
Jesus’ question to his disciples is addressed to each of us today, and if we are able to give a “personal” answer, to personally define something about God, beyond the culture in which we live, beyond the beliefs of a received education, we gain something true and profound about our identity.
In this context, it is interesting to remember Peter’s first encounter with Jesus, narrated by the evangelist Luke (Luke 5:1-11). Peter, in the way he was able at that precise moment, trusts Jesus and, “on his word he casts out his nets,” despite the fact that all night he had caught nothing. In this story, Jesus, wanting to establish a personal relationship with Peter, does not ” violate” his life, does not ask him for something foreign to him… He asks him to continue to be a fisherman, but no longer of fish, of men. It simply broadens his horizons, allows him to begin a journey that will lead him to be the rock on which the Church will be built.
We often believe that the entry of the Lord into our lives constitutes a renunciation of many things. The true presence of the Lord in our existence is, on the contrary, a broadening of our horizons, a being led gently to the truth of our existence, to becoming more and more each day the people we can and should be.
The Gradual for today’s Celebration is taken from Psalm 91 (Ps 91:2. 3) with the following text,
“Bonum est confiteri Domino: et psallere nomini tuo, Altissime.
Ad annuntiandum mane misericordiam tuam: et veritatem tuam per noctem.”
(It is good to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing in honour of your name, O Most High.
To show forth your mercy in the morning, and your fidelity in the night).
The attached music, in Gregorian Chant, is taken from the Gradual Triplex published in Solesmes in 1979. The performance is by the “Nova Schola Gregoriana” conducted by Alberto Turco.
A blessed Sunday and heartfelt greetings.
