1. -- Lanie LeBlanc OP - <lanie@leblanc.one>
2. -- Fr. Jude Siciliano OP - <FrJude@JudeOP.org>

3. -- Carmen Mele OP <cmeleop@yahoo.com>

4. --(Your reflection can be here!)

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Blessings,

Dr. Lanie LeBlanc OP

Southern Dominican Laity

lanie@leblanc.one

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Fr. Jude Siciliano OP - <FrJude@JudeOP.org>

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21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Isaiah 22:19-23; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20)

Today’s Gospel should be familiar to most Catholics. We see it cited repeatedly as proof that the Lord chose the Pope as the leader of the Church. The establishment of the papacy is more complex than a single Gospel passage can convey, but Matthew 16:18 points in the right direction.

In the Gospel, Jesus gives Simon more than just a new name; He bestows upon him a momentous title. "Peter" comes from the Greek word *petro's*, meaning "rock." Simon Peter is the rock upon which a solid church can be built. Jesus says at the end of the Sermon on the Mount that the wise man builds his house upon rock (Matthew 7:24). Here, He demonstrates His wisdom.

Jesus views Simon as the foundation of His Church for several reasons. Above all, He points to Simon’s intimacy with God, evidenced by his having received the revelation that Jesus is "the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Furthermore, Simon has demonstrated several qualities necessary for a leader. He speaks eloquently; indeed, he serves as the spokesman for the disciples. In today’s Gospel, when Jesus asks, "But who do you say that I am?", it is Simon who answers. Additionally, Simon acted with confidence when he stepped out onto the water, imitating the Lord (Matthew 14:28).

In the other Gospels and in the Acts of the Apostles, Simon demonstrates other leadership qualities. In Luke, he shows himself to be sensitive to Jesus' impending suffering by telling Him he is willing to die for Him. (Yes, the statement reflects pride; nevertheless, his intention is to support Jesus. In fact, Peter would eventually lay down his life for Jesus Christ.) In the Gospel of John, Peter shows deep love for Jesus when the risen Lord appears to His disciples on the shore. Perhaps even more significantly, in the Acts of the Apostles, Simon Peter demonstrates authority in various ways. He preaches dynamically, performs countless healings, and makes decisions on behalf of the community.

What are the responsibilities of the Pope that require unwavering stability? Many could be listed, but let us limit ourselves to three. First, the Pope must promote unity. Since its inception, the Church has suffered the defection of various groups; the First Letter of John describes one such instance. This year, Pope Leo has engaged in dialogue with the bishops of Germany and with the Society of Saint Pius X to prevent them from breaking away from ecclesiastical authority. Furthermore, recent popes have maintained a constant dialogue with Orthodox and Protestant Christians in the hope of reconciliation.

The Pope must also ensure that Church doctrine does not fall into error. In the First Letter to the Corinthians, Saint Paul had to correct members of the community who denied the resurrection of the dead. Today, similar issues concern Pope Leo. These relate particularly to moral questions, but also to dogmatic ones. For example, many mistakenly believe that in vitro fertilization is justified. A dogmatic issue that has raised concerns among recent popes is the claim by some theologians that Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus can be saved without believing in Christ.

The Pope's most important responsibility—because it was Jesus' priority—is to maintain the Church as a community of charity. It is not enough for Catholics to attend Mass if they scoff at participating in food drives. It is not enough for them to pay tithes to the parish if they show disdain for people of other races. Demonstrating fraternal love for the needy, Pope Leo recently sent over one hundred thousand euros to Venezuela to aid earthquake victims.

With the election of each new pope, we are reminded that the one chosen is not the successor of the deceased pope, but of Peter. The modern pope must demonstrate the qualities of the first by acknowledging Jesus as “the Messiah, the living Son of God.” He must also be willing to sacrifice himself for Jesus’ flock.

Carmen Mele OP <cmeleop@yahoo.com>

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Volume 2 is for you. These reflections follow the Liturgical Calendar and appear here about mid-week each week.  They are written by various guest authors.  If you would like to submit a reflection of your own, or subscribe to free weekly emails, then click here to send an email request to post to the Webmaster.  Deadline is Monday morning of each week for the upcoming Sunday.

VOLUME II ARCHIVE

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• 19th Sunday •
• 18th Sunday •
• 17th Sunday •
• 16th Sunday •
• 15th Sunday •

A service of The Order of Preachers, The Dominicans.
Province of St. Martin De Porres
(Southern Dominican Province USA)
P.O. Box 8129, New Orleans, LA 70182
(504) 837-2129; Fax (504) 837-6604
http://www.opsouth.org
(form revised 10/13/2025)