21st Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A

Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Messiah forms the climax to the long section of the Gospel which began in 4:17 with Jesus’ public teaching in Galilee. A lot of that narrative is devoted to three essential questions: (a) who is Jesus, (b) what does it mean to be his disciples in the light of his identity, and (c) what choices will you make because of his call.  In previous two Sunday gospels we have seen these questions addressed in the story of Peter walking upon the waters (Mt 14:22-33) and the encounter with the Canaanite woman (15:21-28). These stories serve as the immediate context for our gospel about Peter’s confession and what it will mean for him in his on-going role of discipleship. It is a rich and robust gospel. Come and take a moment on the back porch!

Full Text of the Sunday Readings

Detailed Commentary on the Gospel

Image credit: Pietro Preugino, The Delivery of the Keys (c 1481–1482). Sistine Chapel, Vatican City | Public Domain