Ordinary Time, 21st Sunday. The pagan city of Caesarea Philippi forms the dramatic backdrop to the Church's first great confession of faith: "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Peter is humbly open for God to reveal the truth to him. As Peter struggles to be faithful we see God using fallible humans to accomplish His infallible will. The gates of Hades have not prevailed, as the authority of the Church has been passed down from generation to generation until today with Pope Francis, the 266th "Rocky."

The world saw Simon the Fisherman, but Jesus saw the Rock on which he would build His Church. Only God knows who you truly are and what you are truly capable of. You may see yourself as a nobody, but God sees the incredible gifts he has given you. Be open to Jesus revealing himself to you. But also, be open to Jesus revealing yourself to you. Jesus asks us, "Who do you say that I am?" We should be asking Jesus, "Lord, who do You say that I am?"

(24 Aug 2014)

Pause and Reflect

• Read a List of All the Popes and reflect on where our Church has been over the years.
• This post has a link to a great audio CD you can listen to: How Many Popes have there Been?
• Something to meditate on: