2026 Cycle A - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings

22nd  Sunday in Ordinary Tim  Year 2017

Jeremiah 20: 7-9; Psalm 63: 2-6, 8-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16: 21-27

Homily Theme

True  Discernment 

In the first reading this week Jeremiah feels he has been duped by God by becoming a prophet. As true God believers, we are required to discern whether we are truly doing God’s Will and listening to Him,   or merely following and listening to other human voices: If we are to be duped, make sure that it is God that is doing the duping not man, ourselves, or Satan. In the second reading, St. Paul tells the Romans not to conform themselves to this age but to discern the true Will of God.

We have an example in this week’s Gospel, of St. Peter being strongly rebuked by Jesus for merely speaking in human terms when he attempts to divert Jesus from the Father’s plan. In last week’s Gospel reading, Peter had actually been commended by Jesus for receiving and discerning a revelation from the Father about who Jesus truly was. He had proclaimed Jesus to be the Christ the Son of God. He had judged and discerned truly by a divine standard not a human one:  so must we.

Those who judge by a mere human standard could use this week’s rebuke by Christ, as an example against infallibility of the Popes. Popes, just like Abraham, Moses and the Prophets, are just men, but like Prophets before them, God can, and does use the successors of Peter only when they speak ex Cathedra. The Prophets discerned God inspirations in the Old Testament to guide and protect God’s people, so do the successors of Peter: the Popes lead and guide the People of God today. If we listen to the Infallibly Defined Teachings of the Church we will never be duped in error.

The Patriarchs and Prophets of the Old Testament were capable of sinning just like other men but when they discerned the true revelations of God they were infallible. Jesus will say to again, “Flesh and blood have not revealed it to them, but His Father in Heaven.”  As Catholics we are protected from being duped since we have a guarantee from Jesus that what His Church binds on earth is bound in Heaven. What it looses on earth is loosed in Heaven. Peter has passed on the keys. So don’t be duped by others who have not recognized His Church or His voice within it.

Last week, Peter was told by Jesus, that it was not his human reasoning, that told Him the truth about Jesus Divinity, when he was commended for proclaiming what the Holy Spirit had inspired in Him:  he had discerned correctly.  Later he is rebuked for being duped by his  reasoning.  There may be times when we, will ourselves will be duped because of our lack of  

True Discernment.