Entries

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

August 23, 2026

Fr. John Colacino C.PP.S.

Introit

Collect

O God, who cause the minds of the faithful
to unite in a single purpose,
grant your people to love what you command
and to desire what you promise,
that, amid the uncertainties of this world,
our hearts may be fixed on that place
where true gladness is found.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading Is 22:19-23 1

Thus says the Lord God of hosts: 15 “Go to the steward, to Shebna, who is master of the household, and say to him: 19 “I will thrust you from your office, and you will be pulled down from your post. 20 On that day I will call my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah, 21 and will clothe him with your robe and bind your sash on him. I will commit your authority to his hand, and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. 22 “I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and no one shall shut; he shall shut, and no one shall open. 23 I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honour to his ancestral house.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 138:1-2,2-3,6,8

R. Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.

Second Reading Rom 11:33-36

O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?” 35 “Or who has given a gift to him, to receive a gift in return?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.

Alleluia Mt 16:18

Gospel Mt 16:13-20

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then Jesus sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Catena Nova

Now Peter was inclined to be severe, so if he had also been impeccable what forbearance would he have shown toward those he instructed? His falling into sin was thus a providential grace to teach him from experience to deal kindly with others…. He fell into sin so that remembering his own fault and the Lord's forgiveness, he also might forgive others out of love for them.... Mercifully, however, Jesus forgave him his sin, because he knew that Peter, being a man, was subject to human frailty. Now, as I said before, the reason God’s plan permitted Peter to sin was because he was to be entrusted with the whole people of God, and sinlessness added to his severity might have made him unforgiving toward his brothers and sisters. He fell into sin so that remembering his own fault and the Lord's forgiveness, he also might forgive others out of love for them. This was God's providential dispensation. He to whom the Church was to be entrusted, he, the pillar of the churches, the harbor of faith, was allowed to sin; Peter, the teacher of the world, was permitted to sin, so that having been forgiven himself he would be merciful to others (St. John Chrysostom)

Peter comes from the word for a rock in exactly the same way as the name Christian comes from Christ. Before his passion the Lord Jesus, as you know, chose those disciples of his whom he called apostles. Among these it was only Peter who almost everywhere was given the privilege of representing the whole Church. It was in the person of the whole Church, which he alone represented, that he was privileged to hear, “To you will I give the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” After all, it is not just one man that received these keys, but the Church in its unity. So this is the reason for Peter’s acknowledged pre-eminence, that he stood for the Church’s universality and unity, when he was told, “To you I am entrusting,” what has in fact been entrusted to all (St. Augustine).

The Church is called Catholic or universal because it has spread throughout the entire world, from one end of the earth to the other. Again, it is called Catholic because it teaches fully and unfailingly all the doctrines which ought to be brought to our knowledge, whether concerned with visible or invisible things, with the realities of heaven or the things of earth. Another reason for the name Catholic is that the Church brings under religious obedience all classes of men, rulers and subjects, learned and unlettered. Finally, it deserves the title Catholic because it heals and cures unrestrictedly every type of sin that can be committed in soul or in body, and because it possesses within itself every kind of virtue that can be named, whether exercised in actions or in words or in some kind of spiritual charism. (St. Cyril of Jerusalem).

Whatever Christ has willed to be shared in common by Peter and the other leaders of the Church, it is only through Peter that he has given to others what he has not refused to bestow on them....The authority vested in this power passed also to the other apostles, and the institution established by this decree has been continued in all the leaders of the Church. But it is not without good reason that what is bestowed on all is entrusted to one. For Peter received it separately in trust because he is the prototype set before all the rulers of the Church. (Pope St. Leo the Great)

God has given us no other foundation of our salvation, our perfection and our glory: “for other foundation no man can lay but that which is laid; which is Christ Jesus” (1 Cor 3:11). Every house which is not built upon this firm Rock, is founded on the shifting sands and will inevitably fall, sooner or later. Every soul who is not united with Christ, as a branch to the stem of the vine, will fall off, wither and become fit only for the fire. If we are in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ in us, we need not fear damnation; neither Angels in Heaven, nor men on earth, neither demons in hell, nor any other creature, can harm us because they cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort)

It is important to note how the weakness of Peter [and of Paul] clearly shows that the Church is founded upon the infinite power of grace (cf. Mt 16:17; 2 Cor 12:7-10). Peter, immediately after receiving his mission, is rebuked with unusual severity by Christ, who tells him: "You are a hindrance to me" (Mt 16:23). How can we fail to see that the mercy which Peter needs is related to the ministry of that mercy which he is the first to experience? (Pope St. John Paul II)

The Church always needs to be reformed, repaired. We certainly do not feel like rocks, but only like small stones. However, no small stone is useless; indeed, in Jesus’ hands the smallest stone becomes precious, because he picks it up, gazes at it with great tenderness, fashions it with his Spirit, and positions it in the right place that he had always had in mind and where it can be more useful to the whole structure. Each of us is a small stone, but in Jesus’ hands participates in the building of the Church. And all of us, as small as we are, are rendered “living stones” because when Jesus takes his stone in hand, he makes it his own; he infuses it with life, full of life, full of life from the Holy Spirit, full of life from his love. And thus we have a place and a mission in the Church: she is a community of life, made up of very many stones, all different, which form a single edifice as a sign of fraternity and communion (Pope Francis).

Homily

I think a saint in the calendar this past week might be as astonished as he would upset. Last month the Catholic Biblical Association of America elected a woman president by the name of Amy-Jill Levine. Oh, and by the way, she is Jewish. Mind you, in 2019 she became the first Jewish scholar to teach the New Testament at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. And that, I think, would have riled the sainted pontiff, St. Pius X. Always on the lookout for threats to Catholic orthodoxy, he took special aim at Catholic biblical scholars who were beginning — albeit tentatively — to employ new methods to the study and interpretation of Scripture: What came to be known as the "historical critical method." At one point Pius “declare[d] and decree[d] that all are bound in conscience to submit to the decisions of the Biblical Commission relating to doctrine, which have been given in the past and which shall be given in the future…. nor can all those escape the note of disobedience or temerity, and consequently of grave sin, who in speech or writing contradict such decisions…” And for those who did, he prescribed automatic excommunication only he could lift (Praestantia Scripturae; November 18, 1907).

And what do we find among the decisions of the Biblical Commission? I'll mention just two: that Moses was the chief author of the Pentateuch and that the first three chapters of Genesis contain accounts of actual events which correspond to historical truth. I could go on about how once proscribed views such as those are now taken for granted by just about everyone — and for which no threats of excommunication are being made by the present, or any future pope, toward those who hold them. Indeed, the only excommunications of late have been against an organization that takes St. Pius X as their patron!

And so Professor Levine takes for granted that the historical approach to the Bible is compatible with the Catholic faith. "What I'm interested in doing," she says, "is taking Jesus' humanity with full seriousness and seeing him as embedded in a particular time and place, as a Jewish man"…. Because if we get the culture wrong, we're going to get Jesus wrong." (Cf. National Catholic Reporter; August 12, 2026; https://www.ncronline.org/news/amy-jill-levine-elected-first-jewish-president-catholic-biblical-association).

Now a pope — and a saint no less — getting such matters wrong unsettles a lot of Catholics. But what they fail to realize is how the historical approach applies to church teaching as well. And if we don't take into account the context of those teachings — the influence of the times on such teachings — well, we're going to get the pope wrong too! Moreover, when Catholics point to Jesus’ words, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,” in support of their belief about the pope’s unique role in the church, the example of Pius X might leave you wondering just how solid that rock is. And whether there are other papal missteps we should be wondering about — apart from those rare instances when papal teaching is protected by the Holy Spirit such that the teaching is infallible.

After all, Jesus didn’t say whether “Peter” was made of hard granite or softer graphite. The word kepha in Aramaic could mean rock or stone. I suspect those who first heard the nickname given to Simon the fisherman might think Jesus meant the latter. This was, after all, Peter. By his own admission, he thought Jesus made a poor choice (cf. Lk. 5:8). The same Peter we saw two weeks ago almost drown in the Sea of Galilee for his lack of faith. No Rock of Gibraltar he! Not to mention that little matter of a threefold denial – from someone who said he was ready to die with Christ.

All of which makes Peter’s commission so puzzling. Even if he had a sudden inspiration from on high when he blurted out, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God, I can imagine the other apostles thinking there’d better be a spare set of those famous keys of the kingdom of heaven (G). So when people wonder about Peter’s successor, whether he’s got it right or not, whether he’s the right man for the job or not, well, that’s been going on from the start. And for good reason. Which is why I’m not crazy about papal “superstars” -- no matter who’s sitting in Peter’s chair.

Of course, we all gravitate toward our favorites. And I confess Francis and now Leo are right up there on my list of "rock" stars. But we might be better off to simply let Peter be Peter – a rock, yes, but not always as solid as we might hope, any more than the original was. Which is why we believe Peter’s authority lies not in flesh and blood, but our Father in heaven – the only infallible source of truth. And yes, Peter does reliably witness to this truth, but let’s face it, history tells us some popes might be found fumbling with keys to the gates of hell rather than the pearly gates.

Perhaps you noticed how the first reading compares Peter to an Old Testament figure: someone called Eliakim who replaced a discredited fellow named Shebna as major domo in the palace of King Hezekiah of Judah. Isaiah called him a peg in a secure place (I). Something like calling Simon a rock. What the first reading doesn’t tell you is how just a few verses later it is said of Eliakim, who was given the keys to the house of David: The peg fixed in a firm place shall give way, break off and fall, and the weight that hung on it shall be done away with (Is. 22:25).

All of which reminds us the truly secure place is a church against which the gates of the netherworld will not prevail (G), and not any given steward of God’s household. From whom and through whom and for whom are all things. To whom be glory forever. Amen (cf. II).

Intercessions (Joe Milner; The Sunday Website)

For all who follow Jesus: that Christ will unite us in witnessing to the Gospel, in better understanding of each other, and in working together in helping those who are suffering.

For Pope Leo, successor to St. Peter: that the Holy Spirit will guide him in proclaiming the Good News, promoting unity in the Church, and inspiring us to greater love and service.

For all who exercise authority whether in religion, business, education, or government: that they may recognize God as the source of all authority and use their power for promoting justice and the common good.

For a deep appreciation of the beauty and dignity of life: that the wisdom and knowledge of God may open our minds and hearts to honor and respect life especially in the aged, the disabled, and the mentally ill.

For all who are recovering from disasters, particularly the people of Hawaii: that God will relieve their pain, give them strength of spirit, and speed the assistance that they need.

For greater stewardship of the earth: that our hearts may be moved as we behold the wondrous work of God in nature and that we may care for it so that future generations may see God's work.

For healing in cities and neighborhoods: that God will guide leaders in addressing issues of racism, discrimination, and injustice in our communities, turn hearts from violence, and open pathways that will lead to reconciliation.

Living God, you sent your Son among us to reveal your wisdom and make known your ways. Increase our faith, that we may confess Jesus as your Son, take up his work on earth, and trust his promise to sustain the Church. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Archives