Who do you say that I am?

 
https://www.youtube.com/@Simplycatholic

 When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13)

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This verse refers to one of the more important episodes in the Gospel, not only because of the question itself, but also because Jesus posed it to the Apostles at Caesarea Philippi, which was a) a symbol of the imperial power of Rome, b) the site of a famous pagan temple, and c) far away from Jerusalem, the center of Jewish authority.

 
By eliciting Peter’s profession of faith at that location, Jesus symbolically replaced the old centers of power (i.e. Jerusalem, pagan temples, and Rome) with the  authority and pre-eminence of the Catholic Church.

 
Today, the seismic shift of world power that Jesus ushered in at Caesarea Philippi is being reversed. Rather than affirming the Church as the New Jerusalem, the city set on a hill for all to see, it seems the successors of the Apostles have lost sight of what happened there, as well as the words of the prophet Isaiah:

 
In days to come, the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established as the highest mountain

and raised above the hills. All nations shall stream toward it. Many peoples shall come and say:

“Come, let us go up to the LORD’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may

instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” (Isaiah 2:2-3)

 
These words are inscribed on the grounds of the United Nations — hardly a center of religious faith — and yet they are being ignored by many in the Church. They have forgotten that the mission of the Church is to transform the world, NOT be overwhelmed by it. And yet, that is what is happening.

 
The Pope cannot allow himself to forget that he is the Vicar of Christ and the successor of Peter. The same Peter who proclaimed unequivocally at Caesarea, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”. The same Peter who chose to be crucified rather than give in to the secular powers of his day.

 
Unfortunately, the opposite is now taking place. The leaders of the Church are trying to “play nice” with false religions, globalists, climate activists, and even atheists, while at the same time rejecting and punishing those who want to preserve the integrity of the Church that was entrusted to Peter at Caesarea. 

 
“Synodality” itself is a rejection of Our Lord’s admonition to trust God rather than men.

 
In light of everything that is going on in the world and in the Church, the Lord all the more wants to know:

 
“Who do YOU say that I am?”

 
What will our response be? 

 
What will MY response be?