You are The Christ, The Son of The God of THE living

Matthew 16:16 This mrning, it is my turn for the Mass. Peter's confession features in the Pope "Jesus of Nazareth". see below. For the Gospel, the lead was from Peter's words, "You are the Christ of the Son of  the living God".  We could have Noted the repeating the three Articles in the English, THE Christ, THE Son, THE living God, four articles in the Greek,  In fact, interest is much from Benedict's Two Milestones on Jesus’ Way: Peter's Confession and the Transfiguration PETER'S CONFESSION All three Synoptis Gospels present the Confession of Peter and Benedict has five shematic observations "But only Matthew follows Peter's confession withthe bestowal upon Peter of the power of the keys -". % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % Jesus of Nazareth – Benedict XVI   CHAPTER NINE Two Milestones on Jesus’ Way: Peter's Confession and the Transfiguration PETER'S CONFESSION All three Synoptic Gospels (Edit Print Layout) present Jesus' question to the disciples about who the people think he is and who they themselves consider him to be (Mk 8:27-30; Mt 16:13-20; Lk 9:18-21) as an important milestone on his way. In all three Gospels, Peter answers in the name of the Twelve with a confession that is markedly different from the opinion of the "people." In all three Gospels, Jesus then foretells his Passion and Resurrection, and continues this announcement of his own destiny with a teaching about the way of discipleship, the way to follow him, the Crucified. In all three Gospels, however, he also interprets this "following" on rhc way of the Cross from an essentially anthropological standpoint: It is the indispensable way for man to "lose his life:' without which it is impossible for him to find it (Mk 8:31-9:1; Mt 16:21-28; Lk 9:22-27). And finally, in all three Gospels there follows the account of the Transfiguration of Jesus, which once again interprets Peter's confession and takes it deeper, while at the same time connecting it with the mystery of Jesus' death and Resurrection (Mk 9:2-13; Mt 17:1-13; Lk 9:28-36). Only Matthew immediately follows Peter's confession with the bestowal upon Peter of the power of the keys--of the power to bind and loose-and this is connected with Jesus' promise to build his Church upon Peter as on a rock. Parallel passages concerning this commission and this promise are found in Luke 22:31f., in the context of the Last Supper and in John 21:15-19 after Jesus' Resurrection. It should be pointed out that John, too, places a similar confession on Peter's lips, which once again is presented as a decisive milestone on Jesus' way, giving the circle of the Twelve its full weight and profile for the first time an 6:68£). As we study Peter's confession in the Synoptics, we will also need to take this text into account, since, despite all the dif­ferences, it does reveal some basic elements in common with the Synoptic tradition. These somewhat schematic observations should have made it clear that Peter's confession can be properly understood only in the context of Jesus' prophecy of the Passion and his words about the way of discipleship. These three elements-Peter's words and Jesus' twofold answer-belong inseparably together. Equally indispensable for understanding Peter's confession is the attestation of Jesus in the Transfiguration scene by the Father himself and by the Law and the Prophets. In Mark's Gospel, the story of the Transfigura­tion is preceded by what seems to be a promise of the Parousia. On one hand, this promise is connected with what Jesus … Jesus of Nathareth, POPE BENEDICT XVI pp. 287- 288

RWP

Mat 16:16 -

Peter is the spokesman now: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Su ei ho Christos ho huios tou theou tou zōntos). It was a noble confession, but not a new claim by Jesus. Peter had made it before (Joh_6:69) when the multitude deserted Jesus in Capernaum. Since the early ministry (John 4) Jesus had avoided the word Messiah because of its political meaning to the people. But now Peter plainly calls Jesus the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Son of the God the living one (note the four Greek articles). This great confession of Peter means that he and the other disciples believe in Jesus as the Messiah and are still true to him in spite of the defection of the Galilean populace (John 6).

(GNT) Mat 16:16 ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ Σίμων Πέτρος εἶπεν, Σὺ εἶ ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ζῶντος.

http://biblos.com/matthew/16-16.htm

<< Matthew 16:16 >>

Matthew 16:16 Greek Study Bible (Apostolic / Interlinear) ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ Σίμων Πέτρος εἶπεν· σὺ εἰ ὁ χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦζῶντος. KJV with Strong's  And Simon Peter answered and said Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God Greek Transliteration Strong's Morphology English ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis 611 V-APP-NSM having answered δὲ de 1161 CONJ And Σίμων simōn 4613 N-NSM Simon Πέτρος petros 4074 N-NSM Peter εἶπεν eipen 2036 V-2AAI-3S said σὺ su 4771 P-2NS Thou εἰ ei 1488 V-PAI-2S art ὁ o 3588 T-NSM χριστὸς christos 5547 N-NSM Christ ὁ o 3588 T-NSM υἱὸς uios 5207 N-NSM Son τοῦ tou 3588 T-GSM of θεοῦ theou 2316 N-GSM God τοῦ tou 3588 T-GSM ζῶντος zōntos 2198 V-PAP-GSM living ΚΑΤΑ ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΝ 16:16 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ Σίμων Πέτρος εἶπεν· σὺ εἰ ὁ χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ζῶντος. ΚΑΤΑ ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΝ 16:16 Greek NT: Greek Orthodox Church ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ Σίμων Πέτρος εἶπε· Σὺ εἶ ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ζῶντος. ΚΑΤΑ ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΝ 16:16 Greek NT: Tischendorf 8th Ed. with Diacritics ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ Σίμων Πέτρος εἶπεν· σὺ εἶ ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ζῶντος. ΚΑΤΑ ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΝ 16:16 Greek NT: Stephanus Textus Receptus (1550, with accents) ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ Σίμων Πέτρος εἶπεν Σὺ εἶ ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ζῶντος ΚΑΤΑ ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΝ 16:16 Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) αποκριθεις δε σιμων πετρος ειπεν συ ει ο χριστος ο υιος του θεου του ζωντος ΚΑΤΑ ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΝ 16:16 Greek NT: Textus Receptus (1894) αποκριθεις δε σιμων πετρος ειπεν συ ει ο χριστος ο υιος του θεου του ζωντος Matthew 16:16 Hebrew Bible ויען שמעון פטרוס ויאמר אתה הוא המשיח בן אלהים חיים׃ Matthew 16:16 Aramaic NT: Peshitta ܥܢܐ ܫܡܥܘܢ ܟܐܦܐ ܘܐܡܪ ܐܢܬ ܗܘ ܡܫܝܚܐ ܒܪܗ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܚܝܐ ܀ Latin: Biblia Sacra Vulgata respondens Simon Petrus dixit tu es Christus Filius Dei vivi

Noble Silver Fir

---- Forwarded Message ---- From: Anne Marie … Sent: Thu, 5 August, 2010 1:46:37 Subject:                           The tree I am fascinated by the tree that stands above all the rest and seems battered by the elements. There is something quite profound in its image. It is all bent by the wind and the branches are struggling to survive.  It would have been much easier to be the same  height as all the other trees.   You could make a nice movie from the sunset pics and the ones you took the other day. Nivard can put music to it … Yours … Anne Marie

COMMENT Feeding Five Thousand

Hi, William,

Thanks for the COMMENT.

I had my oar in just before your word.

St. Hilary sets us on the scent of Jesus' track.

Hilary raises the sights but encountering Benedict XVI explaining the Meaning of the Manna has overawed me.

Keep on opening the alerting pages.

Yours aye.

Donald

---- Forwarded Message ----
From: William J ...
To: Donald ...
Sent: Mon, 2 August, 2010 19:02:00
Subject: Mtt 14:15 Feeding of the Five Thousand

Dear Father Donald,

You may well be on the trail of an enlightening commentary, and you may indeed have seen today's issue... but it inspires me to share it with you...

Since you provided us with the weblink to http://www.dailygospel.org there have been several remarkable commentaries on the Gospel of the day, but today's, on Mtt 14:15 the Feeding of the Five Thousand, from the writings of Saint Hilary (c.315-367), Bishop of Poitiers, Doctor of the Church, is outstanding.
Mysteries are seldom approached, but here Saint Hilary has shown the 'audacity' of Moses as he neared the burning bush: with one overwhelming difference - Our Lord stands there before us with the loaves in his hands: 

"After taking the loaves our Lord raised his eyes to heaven to worship Him from whom he himself had his being... 

he gave the loaves to his disciples. It wasn't through multiplication that those five loaves became many. The fragments followed one another and deceived those breaking them; it was as though they had been cut into pieces beforehand! Matter continues to be produced...
Therefore, don't be surprised that springs flow on, that there are bunches of grapes on the stock of the vine and that rivers of wine flow from the grapes. The earth's whole resources spread according to an unalterable annual rhythm. 
A multiplication of loaves such as this reveals the author of the world's doing. 
As a general rule he sets a limit to such growth since he knows in depth the laws of matter. In the visible creation an invisible work takes place.
The mystery of the present deed is the work of the Lord of heavenly mysteries.
The power of the One who acts surpasses all nature, and the method used by this Power goes beyond all our understanding of it. 
All that remains is our wonder before this power."

... in Our Lord,

William

Peter walks on the water

MATTHEW 14:22-36  (Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22 3 August July 2010 Mt 14:22-36 Fr. Santosh offered the early community Mass this morning. The Readings from Jeremiah and Matthew were the basis of the Introduction. “Take heart, it is I, have no fear.” (v 27).  (Mt. 14:29). The Book of Jeremiah Chapter 30 is called the Book of Consolation. Jeremiah spoke the work of Condemnation in previous Chapters. Now he speaks God’s word of healing forgiveness, hope and promise. He says “your hurt and pain are incurable. Your wound is grievous because of your sinfulness”. Now God will raise up a Saviour who will bring salvation. God will fulfil this in Jesus. In the Gospel the frantic and the terrified disciples in the storm-tossed boat failed to recognise Jesus. Peter experienced the force of the wind was greater than the power off Jesus. We also feel at some point the force of the wind is greater in our lives than the power of the risen Lord. We are subject to discouragements and depression due t our personal problem, future insecurities, anxieties, fictitious fear of our own making. At that moment we tend to forget the presence of Jesus and the power of His Resurrection is with us. At that very moment mat we hear Jesus’ inspiring words, “Take heart, it is I have no fear.” During the Eucharist, Jesus wants us to turn to Him in faith so that He may strengthen us. Gospel Harmony (e-Sword) 74. The peril of the Twelve in the storm at sea and Christ's coming to them on the water in the darkness. Peter walks on the water Mat 14:24-33 Mar 6:47-52 Joh 6:16-21

Manna Benedict xvi

Monday 2nd July  Mass The Gospel, Mt. 14:13-21, on the multiplication of the loaves finds an enlightening comment by Benedict xvi from “Jesus of Nazareth", 'Bread', passim pp. 265-272. (Bloomsbury, UK)     A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 14:18  • Looking up to heaven, he said the blessing and gave the loaves to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.  Gospel Harmony (e-Sword) 72. The first retirement; Feeding of the five thousand Mat 14:13-21 Mar 6:30-44 Luk 9:10-17 Joh 6:1-13 The Meaning of the Manna At the end of Jesus' activity in Galilee, he performs the multiplication of the loaves; on one hand, it is an unmistakable sign of Jesus' messianic mission, while on the other, it is also the crossroads of his public ministry, which from this point leads clearly to the cross ... The great gift, ... which stood out in the people's memory, was the manna. Moses gave bread from heaven; God himself fed the wandering people of Israel with heavenly bread. For a people who often went hungry and struggled to earn their daily bread, this was the promise of promises, which somehow said everything there was to say: relief of every want - a gift that satisfied hunger for all and forever ... Jesus begins by pointing out that they have failed to understand the multiplication of the loaves as a "sign," which is its true meaning. Rather, what inter­ested them was eating and having their fill (see Jn 6: 26). They have been looking at salvation in purely material terms, as a matter of universal wellbeing, and they have therefore reduced man, leaving God out altogether. But if they see the manna only as a means of satisfying their hunger, they need to realize that even the manna was not heavenly bread, but only earthly bread. Even though it came from "heaven," it was earthly food - or rather a food substitute that would necessarily cease when Israel emerged from the desert back into inhabited country. But man hungers for more. He needs more. The gift that feeds man as man must be greater, must be on a wholly different level. .. When we encounter Jesus, we feed on the living God himself, so to speak; we truly eat "bread from heaven." By the same token, Jesus has already made it clear that the only work God demands is the work of believing in him..; Jesus' listeners are ready to work, to do something, to perform "works," in order to receive this bread. But it cannot be "earned" by human work, by one's own achievement. It can only come to us as a gift from God, as God's work. Benedict XVI  “Jesus of Nazareth” ’

Jesus of Nazareth, Vol. 2

See AMAZON COM 

Customers 182 Reviews (Vol 1)  

News of the publication of Vol 2 of Benedict's "Jesus of Nazareth" due in 2011.

The Pope is working on Vol 3 during in his vacation at Castel Gandolfo.

The first volume, "Jesus of narareth", has been  a best seller. Some of the Reviews are extremely enlightening. 

See to the select for Amazon Com. (presently)

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Ignatius Press to Publish Vol. 2 of Pope's Book SAN FRANCISCO, JULY 30, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican Publishing House has awarded publishing rights of the English version of Benedict XVI's "Jesus of Nazareth, Vol. 2" to Ignatius Press.

The second volume of the bestseller is expected in spring of 2011. This installment focuses on the Passion and Resurrection and continues from where Vol. 1 left off.

"We are eagerly awaiting Vol. 2 because it will contain the Holy Father’s reflections on the central mysteries of our faith," Jesuit Father Joseph Fessio, founder and editor of Ignatius, said.

This volume is expected to cover questions such as if Jesus established the Church and if he really rose from the dead.

“Jesus remains controversial,” noted Ignatius Press President Mark Brumley. “Christians believe he is the Son of God, the founder of the Church, and the Savior of the world. For non-Christians, Jesus is almost anything else -- a myth, a revolutionary, or a prophet whose teaching was misunderstood or distorted by his followers.”

Benedict XVI finished the first volume of "Jesus of Nazareth" in late 2006. That edition focuses on Jesus' public ministry and was quickly an international bestseller.

During his time at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo this year, the Pope has been working on the third and final volume of the work, which will cover Christ's childhood.

Rich Fool Lk 1213...

LUKE 12:13-21 EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23; Psalm 90; Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11)  KEY VERSE: "Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions" (v15). : From a homily by Saint Basil the Great (Homelies sur la richesse, Courtonne, pages 15-19) Seeking to form a Christian social conscience, Basil stresses that the rich have no right to use their property as they please, but must regard themselves as God's stewards. The land of a rich man produced abundant harvests, and he thought to himself: "What am I to do? I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones." Now why did that land bear so well, when it belonged to a man who would make no good use of its fertility? It was to show more clearly the forbearance of God, whose kindness extends even to such people as this. He sends rain on both the just and the unjust, and makes the sun rise on the wicked and the good alike. But what do we find in this man? A bitter disposition, hatred of other people, unwillingness to give. This is the return he made to his Benefactor. He forgot that we all share the same nature; he felt no obligation to distribute his surplus to the needy. His barns were full to bursting point, but still his miserly heart was not satisfied. Year by year he increased his wealth, always adding new crops to the old. The result was a hopeless impasse: greed would not permit him to part with anything he possessed, and yet because he had so much there was no place to store his latest harvest And so he was incapable of making a decision and could find no escape from his anxiety. What am I to do? Who would not pity a man so oppressed? His land yields him no profit but only sighs; it brings him no rich returns but only cares and distress and a terrible helplessness. He laments in the same way as the poor do. Is not his cry like that of one hard pressed by poverty? What am I to do? How can I find food and clothing? You, who have wealth, recognize who has given you the gifts you have received. Consider yourself, who you are, what has been committed to your charge, from whom you have received it, why you have been preferred to most other people. You are the servant of the good God, a steward on behalf of your fellow servants. Do not imagine that everything has been provided for your own stomach. Take decisions regarding your property as though it belonged to another. Possessions give you pleasure for a short time, but then they will slip through your fingers and be gone, and you will be required to give an exact account of them. What am I to do? It would have been so easy to say: "I will feed the hungry, I will open my barns and call in all the poor. I will imitate Joseph in   proclaiming my good will toward everyone. I will issue the generous invitation: 'Let anyone who lacks bread come to me. You shall share, each according to need, in the good things God has given me, just as though you were drawing from a common well'."

Lazarus Martha Mary

29 July, ST MARTHA, ST MARY AND ST LAZARUS, hosts of the Lord. This Memorial  is marked in our Cistercian Rite. The General Sanctoral Calendar has the Memorial names only St. Martha. The Cistercian Prayer after Communion mention Lazarus, Martha and Mary as the Saints by whom we grow in sincere love for you in this life, and for ever be gladdened by your presence in heaven. ENTRANCE ANTIPHON As Jesus entered a certain village, a woman called Martha welcomed him into her house. [see Lk 10,38] OPENING PRAYER Heavenly Father, your Son called Lazarus from the grave and sat at table in the house of Bethany. May we serve him faithfully in our sisters and brothers and with Mary ponder and feed upon his word. Grant . . . PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Heavenly Father, may this sharing in the body and blood of your only-begotten Son lessen our taste for all passing things. By the example of your saints, Lazarus, Martha and Mary, may we grow in sincere love for you in this life, and for ever be gladdened by your presence in heaven. Grant this through Christ our Lord www.ocso.org Cistercian Ritual - Ordo  + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

 

Our sincere thanks to the Editor. We express our ever growing appreciation of the outstanding work by the team of MAGNIFICAT – www.magnificat.com.

To “seek first the kingdom of God” among life's daily activities is a constant challenge for the spiritual life. One Gospel passage that invites us to fix our gaze on Christ comes from the tenth chapter of Luke. There Christ is welcomed into the home of two sisters, Mary and Martha. Jan Vermeer, tile master painter from Delft, bathes this domes­tic scene in radiant light and deep shadows. The immediacy of Vermeer's composition is a visual invitation into the home of Mary and Martha. There we too taste not only the hospitality of these friends of Jesus, but the wisdom they savor in the presence of their Divine Guest.   

Treasure Hidden, Pearl of Price

Greatest Treasure of Great Value Readings. Jer. 15:10, 16-21 Mt. 13: 44-46 To day the Bible Readings speak about the greatest treasure of great value. In the first reading: the prophet Jeremiah found his treasure in preaching the Word of God. As a consequence, he suffered abuse and offense. God tells Jeremiah to take his call as a challenge and trust God and He’ll be with him.  In the second reading: Jesus tells two parables about the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God being like a treasure hidden in the field and the Kingdom of God is like a pearl of great value. The treasure in the field was hidden and therefore they needed concentration and discerning eye to find the treasure. The Gospel challenges us who is the Kingdom of God and it also challenges us what is our response to that Kingdom of God. The Catechism teaches us (CCC 2816) the Kingdom of God means Christ Himself. Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is in you”. The Kingdom of God has arrived in Incarnation, Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus and therefore Jesus says, “Seek first the Kingdom” (Mt. 6:33) and his righteousness and all things will be given to you as well”. What we are asked to do is to give first place in our hearts to Jesus. The Gospel says when these two people found out the treasure and the pearl of enormous value of joy, they sold everything they owned and acquired it. Contrast this with the rich young man Jesus met who was unable to give away all he possessed and went away sorrowful. (Mt. 19:22). -                     Let us look at the Saints in heaven. When they experienced the sweetness of the Lord, they sacrificed everything in order to gain heaven and the eternal life the pearl of enormous value which Christ wants to offer to them. -                     Jesus, the Kingdom of God comes to us in the Eucharist. Our response to Him would be, “ Lord, you are my treasure, my pearl, my delight of soul, my life, my salvation and my only hope. -                     Help me to meet life’s demands. Amen. Fr. Santosh

'Father' (Lord's Prayer Lk 11:2)

COMMENT
LUKE'S GOSPEL SIMPLY SAYS “FATHER” (LK 11:2)

COMMENT

Thank you, William.

Your reading of the book highlights some of the path of this “Jesus of Nazareth”. Benedict XVI is unique among so many ‘lives’ of Jesus.
And, as you say, it is he is the perfect introduction for the Pope’s visit to Scotland

Donald

From: William J
Subject: Pope Benedict's book - one (or more) gems

Dear Father Donald,

It is a delight to see Joseph Ratzinger's text from "Jesus of Nazareth" on your Blog. What a perfect introduction to Pope Benedict's visitation to read of his exquisite reflections on Jesus. There is a wonderful directness in his writing, as if he were speaking directly to us.

May I just share one other 'gem' from his book. Writing on the "Our Father", he takes us first to Luke's text (Sunday's Gospel), before studying the fuller text of Matthew's Gospel, and the reason for this - is beautiful: the highlighting is mine...

"Luke prefaces the Lord's Prayer with the following remark: Jesus "was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray..' " (Lk 11:1). .. The fact that Luke places the Our Father in the context of Jesus' own praying is significant. Jesus thereby involves us in his own prayer; he leads us into the interior dialogue of triune love; he draws our human hardships deep into God's heart, as it were. This also means, however, that the words of the Our Father are signposts to interior prayer, they provide a basic direction for our being, and they aim to configure us to the image of the Son... to train us in the inner attitude of Jesus... We must strive to recognise the thoughts Jesus wished to pass on to us in these words, but we must also keep in mind that the Our Father originates from his own praying, from the Son's dialogue with the Father."

My highlights bring me to the 'gem' of thought - that Jesus can hardly be more present to us in prayer than by inviting us to pray with him.

The reflections that flow from Pope Benedict's reflections capture the mind directly... the Our Father is always a prayer of Jesus and communion with him is what opens it up for us... [Father] the Our Father does not project a human image onto heaven, but shows us from heaven - from Jesus - what we as human beings can and should be like... if earthly fatherhood divides, hevenly fatherhood unites..[Our] overcomes all boundaries and makes us one family..[Hallowed be Thy Name] God establishes a relationship between himself and us, putting himself within reach of our invocation.. he enters into a relationship with us and enables us to be in relationship with him...he assumes the risk of relationship, of communion, with us - and the more he gives himself into our hands, the more we can obscure his light.. [Thy Kingdom come] the first and essential thing is a listening heart, so that God, not we, may reign...Jesus is the Kingdom of God in person, and the Kingdom of God is present wherever he is present... this request, for a listening heart, becomes a request for communion with Jesus Christ, the petition that we increasingly become 'one' with him...[Thy Will be done.. as in Heaven]...the essence of 'heaven' is that it is where God's will is unswervingly done. Or, where God's will is done is heaven... Earth becomes 'heaven' when and insofar as God's will is done there...

As you may guess, I can't halt my pencil from jotting quotes when I read such words!

… in Our Lord,

William.