PATHWAYS OF HOPE: “WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?”

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2025Thursday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary TimeMemorial of Saint Cajetan, priestMemorial of Saint Sixtus, Pope and martyr and his companions, martyrsPATHWAYS OF HOPE: “WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?”[GOSPEL OF THE DAY]: MATTHEW 16:13-23Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippiand 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 disciplesto tell no one that he was the Christ.From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciplesthat he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatlyfrom the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,and be killed and on the third day be raised.Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,“God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.”He turned and said to Peter,“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”Reflection by Danny Dy : Management consultant and urban farmer. CEFAM-counselor. Former CYA and member of LNP.Core team member for National Family Life Service Coordination-BCBP#POHopgiver #LandasngPagasa #catholic #biblereadings #jesus #catholicchurch #christian #church #faith #god #jesuschrist #love #pray #bible #christianity #prayer #hope #gospel