has revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And now I say to you: You are Peter; and on this Rock I will build my Church; and never will the
powers of death overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you unbind
on earth shall be unbound in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. From that day, Jesus began to
make it clear to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem; that he would suffer many things from the Jewish authorities, the chief priests
and the teachers of the law; and that he would be killed and be raised on the third day. Then Peter took him aside and began to reproach him,
“Never, Lord! No, this must never happen to you!” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path. You
are thinking not as God does, but as people do.”

Reflection:

Today, the universal Church celebrates the dedication of St. Mary Major. One of the
four papal basilicas in Rome, and the first basilica in the history of the church to be
dedicated to the Blessed Virgin after the approval of the title of Mary as “theotokos” or Godbearer
in the first Council of Ephesus (431) where the dogma of Mary’s divine motherhood
was proclaimed. And our gospel today is an appropriate reading for the feast that celebrates
Mary’s divine maternity. For Jesus asks His disciples who do people say that He is. Those
who just know Him from afar thinks that the title prophet is already an honor worthy of
His person. But those closest to Him know otherwise. Peter proclaims Him as the Messiah
and the Son of the Living God. Although Peter’s understanding of Jesus’ divine nature is still
imperfect, it is one of the many tacit acknowledgment of Jesus’ divinity. This the later church
acknowledges when Mary is proclaimed the Mother of God. Her maternity is at a point in
time, when God became flesh and not in eternity. Otherwise, this will make Mary like God.
And so, the universal church acknowledges this singular privilege of the Blessed Virgin.
And this happens because of her Son and not because of her.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2021