Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Angele Lewis, SNDdeN

August 27, 2023

Matthew 16: 13-20

Today’s reading from Matthew 16: 13-20 shows Jesus using “engaging questions” to draw people, followers, disciples into deeper conversations with Him.
Jesus begins by asking a type of “hook” question: “Who do PEOPLE say that the Son of Man is?” This is a who, what, where, why, type of question. “Some say John the Baptist, … Elijah … Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” So far, so good.
Jesus then asks his “real” question: “But who do YOU say that I am?” This question is not so simple to answer because it leads to on-going conversion and transformation.
And Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, 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.”
Jesus continues this conversation by “missioning” Peter (speaking for the group). Peter answered the “real question” in making Jesus known by living love, compassion, and humility.
And so, I say to you, “You are Peter and upon this rock I will build by church” (with Keys: Access to the Kingdom, Authority to bind and loose, and Insight to know when to affirm he was the Christ).
Answers to these questions deepen over time with understanding, reflection, experience, and culture.
Jesus draws his disciples and friends with thought-provoking questions for reflection and grow in their faith. He engages them to consider deeper aspects of their beliefs and lives.
• “But who do YOU say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15)
• “Why are YOU so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)
• “Do YOU love me?” (John 21:15-17)
• “What are YOU arguing about on the road?” (Mark 9:33-34)
• “What do YOU want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51)

Matthew 16: 13-20

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and
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 Christ, 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.”
Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Meet Sister Angele Lewis, SNDdeN

Angele Lewis has been a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur (SNDdeN) for 51 years. In 1972 she entered the California Province of the Sisters of Notre Dame. She was sent the following year to Ipswich, MA for her canonical novitiate. In 1974, Sr. Angele was missioned to Notre Dame High School, Belmont and to St. Charles Convent, San Carlos, CA for her second year Novitiate (ministry year). She made First and Final Vows in the Chapel at the College of Notre Dame, Belmont (now Notre Dame de Namur University). Her years at Belmont confirmed for Sr. Angele that she is a teacher at heart. She taught for over 25 years in Notre Dame elementary and high schools and in local parish education programs on the West and East coasts of the United States. She also spent over 5 years providing graphic arts, design and typesetting services for non-profit agencies and for the International Communications Office of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.