Twenty First Sunday of Ordinary Time

August 23, 2026

Matthew 16: 13-20

Indeed, who is Jesus? It seems a question that was asked often enough when Jesus was alive. Many did not know what to make of him. The same seems true in our time, even among believers. We search for the historical Jesus. We ponder whether Jesus always knew exactly who he was, or did he develop more as any human being does, gradually becoming aware of who we are. In the end, it is only through the eyes of faith that we came be a peace with who Jesus is. Simon Peter had the answer.

In this passage, Jesus tells Simon: “you are Peter[that is Rock], and upon this rock I will build my church.” Since we know the whole story, Peter does not always seem to embody what we think are the qualities of being rock-like. Rather, at times he seems more like what modern science fiction would call, a shape shifter. At one time, Peter in his bravado tries to walk across the water to Jesus, only to sink and call out for mercy. Further, Peter almost comically entreats Jesus to wash not only his feet, but his whole body. At another, Peter is sound asleep, even though he promises to watch with Jesus in the Garden. Still further in the story, Peter standing around the fire in the High Priest’s courtyard, denies Christ three times. He is not even present at the foot of the cross.

But it is not Peter’s character or his great achievements that make him a rock. It is his faith: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Notice that no matter what else happens to Peter, he comes back to his faith, and it is his understanding of who Jesus is that makes him stable and strong enough to be the foundation stone of the Church.

Now Peter’s faith is not just intellectual knowledge; it is a loving and trusting relationship with Jesus. He is Rock because he has this relationship which forms a link to Jesus no matter what shifts or changes in his perception of him. Being the rock is dynamic relationship and not a static intellectual belief system.

We began by asking who Jesus is. We know the answer now don’t we? Maybe the real question is: who are we? Are we in a position to confess as Simon Peter did the Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God? No matter what our personality type, our weakness of character, or our previous failings, Jesus always welcomes us into the same kind of deep, loving relationship. Jesus invites us, even as he did Peter, no matter our denseness or failings. He expects each of us also to be the foundation upon which the church continues to be built upon.

Fr. John Tran