22/08/2026
HOMILY | 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20
If Jesus were standing here today and asked us, โWho do people say that I am?โ I think we could answer very quickly.
We could check Facebook. Search Google. Watch YouTube. Ask ChatGPT. In a few seconds, we would have hundreds of answers!
But then Jesus would probably put away our phones and say, โNo, no. I am not asking Google. I am not asking Facebook. I am asking you: Who do YOU say that I am?โ
And suddenly, the question becomes more difficult. Because Jesus is not asking for information. He is asking for a relationship. He is asking for a decision. He is asking for our life.
Today, I would like to leave you with three simple challenges:
KNOW CHRIST.
CHOOSE CHRIST.
BUILD WITH CHRIST.
1. KNOW CHRIST โ DONโT LET THE CROWD ANSWER FOR YOU.
In the Gospel, the disciples tell Jesus what everybody else is saying: โSome say John the Baptist, others Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.โ Everybody has an opinion!
And today, there are even more voices. Facebook has an opinion. TikTok has an opinion. Politicians have opinions. Influencers have opinions. And now AI can give us an answer in seconds.
You can ask AI, โWho is Jesus?โ and it can give you a very good answer. But AI cannot believe for you. Love Jesus for you. Pray for you. Follow Jesus for you.
Christianity is not simply knowing things about Jesus. It is knowing Jesusโspeaking to Him in prayer, listening to His Word, trusting Him in difficult moments, and allowing Him to become part of our daily life.
So our first challenge is: Know Christ personally.
2. CHOOSE CHRIST โ ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS DIFFICULT.
Peter answers beautifully: โYou are the Christ, the Son of the living God.โ But Peter will discover that saying this is easier than living it.
The same is true for us. It is easy to say, โJesus is Lord,โ inside the church. But what happens outside?
When everybody is cheating, will I remain honest?
When corruption becomes normal, will I refuse to participate?
When people online are attacking someone, will I join the crowdโor refuse to add more hatred?
When my friends say, โCome on, everybody is doing it,โ will I have the courage to say, โBut I am a Christianโ?
Sometimes we want Jesus to be our Savior, but not our Lord.
โLord, bless me. Protect me. Heal me. Help my family.โ
But when Jesus says, โForgive that person,โ we say, โLord, maybe something else.โ
When Jesus says, โShare with the poor,โ we say, โLord, next time.โ
When Jesus says, โChange your life,โ we say, โLord, just bless me.โ
But if Jesus is truly Lord, then He must have a say in how we live. Our faith is tested not when following Jesus is convenient, but when following Him costs us something.
So our second challenge is: Choose Christโnot only with your lips, but with your life.
3. BUILD WITH CHRIST โ DONโT ADD TO THE DIVISION.
Finally, Jesus tells Peter: โYou are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.โ
Notice that beautiful word: BUILD.
We live in a time when destroying is very easy. One angry post can destroy a reputation. One piece of fake news can divide a community. One careless accusation can damage a family. One political disagreement can turn friendsโeven relativesโinto enemies.
But Christians are not called to be destroyers. We are called to be builders.
Build your family. Build your parish. Build friendships. Build bridges. Build communities where the poor are remembered and people can disagree without hating one another.
Before posting something, ask: โWill this build or destroy?โ
Before speaking about someone: โWill my words heal or hurt?โ
Before making a decision: โWill this bring people closer to Christ and to one another?โ
And notice something very important. Jesus does not say to Peter, โPeter, you will build my Church.โ He says, โI will build my Church.โ
The Church belongs to Christ. Not to the bishop. Not to the priest. Not to any organization, movement, or group. Christ is the builder. We are only His workers.
And that should keep all of us humble.
โโ
There is a story about two brothers who lived on neighboring farms. For many years, they worked together and helped one another. But one day, because of a misunderstanding, they had a serious quarrel. Harsh words were exchanged, and eventually they stopped speaking to each other.
One morning, a carpenter came to the older brother looking for work.
The older brother pointed to the small river separating his farm from his brotherโs and said, โBuild me a high fence. I donโt want to see my brother anymore.โ
The carpenter went to work.
But when the older brother returned that afternoon, he was surprised. There was no fence.
Instead, the carpenter had built a bridge across the river.
And there, on the other side, stood his younger brother.
The younger brother slowly walked across the bridge and said, โAfter everything I said and did, you still built a bridge between us.โ
The two brothers embraced.
โโ
My dear brothers and sisters, there are already many people building fences in our world.
Jesus needs Christians who will build bridges.
So remember: KNOW CHRIST.
CHOOSE CHRIST. BUILD WITH CHRIST.
