Sunday, August 23, 2026

 TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, August 23, 2026

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

Today’s Gospel should be familiar to most Catholics. We see it 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 express, but Matthew 16:18 points in the right direction.

In the gospel, Jesus gives Simon more than a new name. He bestows on him a momentous title. “Peter” comes from the Greek word petros, 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 on rock (Matthew 7:24). Here he demonstrates his wisdom.

Jesus sees Simon as the foundation of his church for several reasons. Above all, he cites Simon’s intimacy with God indicated by his having received the revelation that Jesus is "the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Furthermore, Simon has displayed several qualities necessary for a leader. He speaks well; in fact, he serves as the spokesperson for the disciples. In today's Gospel, when Jesus asks, "But what about you? Who do you say I am?" it is Simon who gives the answer. Moreover, Simon acted with confidence when he stepped 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 is sensitive to Jesus’ imminent suffering as he tells the Lord that he is ready to die for him. (Yes, the remark is a boast; nevertheless, it is intended to support Jesus.  In fact, Peter will eventually give his life for him.) In the Gospel of John, Peter shows strong love for Jesus when the risen Lord appears to his disciples on the beach. Perhaps more to the point, in Acts, Simon Peter exhibits authority in different ways.  He preaches dynamically, he heals numberless times, and he makes decisions on behalf of the community.

What are the responsibilities of the Pope that require rock-solid stability? Many could be listed, but let's limit ourselves to three. First, the Pope must promote unity. From the beginning, the Church has lost whole groups of members. The First Letter of John describes such a division. This year, Pope Leo has been dialoging with the bishops of Germany and with the Society of Saint Pius X to prevent them from putting themselves outside Church authority.  In addition, more recent popes have been in constant discussion with the Orthodox and Protestants 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 those in the community who were denying the resurrection from the dead. There are similar issues today that concern Pope Leo. They particularly concern moral issues, but there are also dogmatic concerns. For example, many today believe erroneously that in vitro fertilization is justified. One dogmatic issue that has raised the concern of recent popes is how some theologians claim that Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus are saved without belief in Christ.

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

In every election of a new pope, we are reminded that the one elected will not be the successor of the pope who just died, but of Peter. The modern pope must show the qualities of the first one to recognize Jesus as "the Messiah, the living son of God."  He also must be willing to sacrifice himself for Jesus’ flock.