(Mt 16,13-19)

1. FROM THE  WORD  OF  GOD “Our Brothers Peter and Paul”

“When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"

 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."  He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"  Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

 Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. . And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

2. REFLECTIONS

1. PETER. A fisherman. No University. Married. He has as fishers partners James and John. Jesus sees the future of everybody. “You will become a fisher of men.” His name was Simon; Jesus changed his name into Peter (Greek word meaning ‘Rock’; Aramaic Kefa).

1. HIS Leader by nature. Generous. Enthusiastic.

• Honest: After the big catch of fish, he didn’t say “Thanks” but “Go away from me, I am a sinner.
• Spokesman: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
• Impulsive, Impetuous (not thinking before acting) : Let me walk on the water...
• Twice Satan speaks though Peter: Astafullai, No talk about passion... Don’t go to Jerusalem. I will make three tents here...
• He cuts the ear to Malchus...

His defect: over-confidence, presumption:“They can betray you, but I will never do it!”

• Jesus: “I will pray for you...”

1. THE ROOSTER    “Before the rooster will crow you have already denied me three times.”

• Conversion. Peter recognizes his need of God. His spiritual poverty. The need to be humble. His repentance... “He cried bitterly”...
• With the help of Jesus he becomes another Peter. On Pentecost Sunday he stood up... against the Sanhedrin... happy to suffer for Jesus
• “Obedience to God comes before obedience to men...”
• FROM JESUS:  - He forgives unfaithfulness... He teaches with patience... He sees what we can be... He makes heroes out of ordinary people...

1. The man.  Saul Hebrew name, Paul Roman name.

• Fanatic man. Brutal violence against the Christians. Stubborn persecution... Approved the killing of Stephen...
• The vision: “Why are you persecuting me?...”

1. PAUL SHOCKED.

• He thought he was fighting for God, instead he was fighting against God. ..
• Three days blind... No food, no drink...
• Ananias sent to baptize Paul...
• Then Paul retired in his  town: Tarsus
• His preparation to become a great Evangelizer: in prayer and in meditation: three years...

1. PAUL TOTALLY  COMMITTED  TO  JESUS

• Barnabas went to take him to Antioch... There the Holy Spirit chose them to be instruments of salvation...
• “My life is Jesus...”
• "I have been in prison... I have been whipped... I have been close to death... Five times I was given the thirty-nine lashes by the Jews; three times I was whipped by the Romans; and once I was stoned. I have been in three shipwrecks, and once I spent twenty-four hours in the water. In my many travels I have been in danger from floods and from robbers, in danger from my own people and from Gentiles... Often I have gone without sleep; I have been hungry and thirsty; I have often been without food, shelter or clothing..." (2Cor 11,23-27)
• FROM JESUS: 
• Jesus wants to save everybody, even murderers...
• Everybody can be a witness of Jesus. Conditions in order to be so: Humility,  Prayer, Closeness to Jesus...