Week of August 24, 2026 – Sr. Marie-Andre Mitchell, SNDdeN August 24, 2026 Matthew 16: 13-20 In the gospel this week, Peter gets a good lesson in how God is in charge. To Peter’s confession at Caesarea Philippi reported by Mark (Mk 8:27-30), Matthew adds the commissioning of Peter as the rock on which Jesus was to build his church. It is a remarkable story and the fact that we know it so well should not distract us from just how odd it is. Firstly, it takes place at Caesarea Philippi, which is pagan territory, then secondly, he asks his disciples a question, instead of teaching them, to get them first to report the public verdict on himself: “whom do people say the Son of Man is?” They give various answers of a religious sort, but then Jesus asks them,” who do you say I am ?” Peter answers with characteristic impetuosity in the name of them all, but because of a special revelation from the Father, was able to confess Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. The term Christ or Messiah had a long history in Judaism and was applied to a triumphant figure, probably a descendant […]