“Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”” (Matthew 16:19.)
Saint Cyril of Alexandria comments on this verse from the Gospel proclaimed at Mass today:
“Peter did not say “you are a Christ” or “a son of God” but “the Christ, the Son of God.” For there are many christs by grace, who have attained the rank of adoption [as sons], but [there is] only one who is by nature the Son of God. Thus, using the definite article, he said, the Christ, the Son of God. And in calling him Son of the living God, Peter indicates that Christ himself is life and that death has no authority over him. And even if the flesh, for a short while, was weak and died, nevertheless it rose again, since the Word, who indwelled it, could not be held under the bonds of death.” (Fragment 190)
Collect
Grant, we pray, O Lord our God,
that we may be sustained
by the intercession of
the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul,
that, as through them
You gave Your Church
the foundations of Her heavenly office,
so through them
You may help Her to eternal salvation.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
that we may be sustained
by the intercession of
the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul,
that, as through them
You gave Your Church
the foundations of Her heavenly office,
so through them
You may help Her to eternal salvation.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Glory to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen
