August 21, 2026 Trinity XII

August 21, 2026

Trinity XII

"Great moments are born from great opportunity."So says Kurt Russell in the movie Miracle, which tells the story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team's victory over the seemingly invincible Russians."And that's what you have here, tonight, boys," he tells his team. Great opportunity. "That's what you've earned here tonight. One game. If we played 'em 10 times, they might win nine. But not this game. Not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can! Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world."After hearing one of the greatest speeches ever given – at least in this movie – they go on to win.Jesus creates an opportunity for his Apostles in the district of Caesarea Philippi, where King Herod had built a temple to Caesar Augustus. Jesus asks them, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"The Apostles say, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."That's the word on the street. Jesus -- the Son of Man -- is believed to be John, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."But who do you say that I am?" says Jesus, making the question personal.Simon Peter answers, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."A great moment, born from a great opportunity.Peter makes a declaration about Jesus that changes the course of his life and the history of the entire Christian community. It begins with a few heartfelt words, spoken at precisely the right moment.A great speech.Okay, maybe it was not a "speech" in a technical sense of the word. More like the "greatest comment ever made." "The greatest answer ever given."But it was great. Maybe the greatest ever. So, what makes Peter's statement so powerful? The greatest of speeches are given -- and what follows right here are identifying characteristics -- by the right person, at the right moment, with the right vision and the right understanding.All of these are true for Peter when he makes his declaration about Jesus.For starters, Peter is the right person. He is not an extraordinary person -- he has the same strengths and weaknesses as the other Apostles. He will protest forcefully when Jesus speaks of his suffering and death, and will stumble badly when he denies Jesus on the night before the crucifixion. But because Peter's so very human, so much like any one of us, he is the right person to make a declaration about Jesus, after all, Peter is one of the most vocal of the Apostles.Peter also speaks at the right moment. At this point in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is nearing the completion of his ministry in Galilee. Soon, he will head toward Jerusalem and face the suffering and death that awaits him there. But first, he needs to make sure that his Apostles are clear about who he is, and what the community of his followers will look like. This time in Caesarea Philippi is the right moment for Peter to speak.When he makes his statement, Peter also has the right vision. He senses Jesus is no mere prophet, a man like John, Elijah, Jeremiah, and others before him. No, Peter sees that Jesus is the Messiah, the one who has been anointed by God to rule. Literally, that is what Messiah means in Hebrew, "anointed," a title usually attached to a king. Peter considers Jesus to be his king, the one who brings the kingdom of God into the middle of human life.On top of this, Peter has the right understanding. He grasps that Jesus is "the Son of the living God," the one who shows God's divine power and love more clearly than anyone else. In the very next chapter, Peter will hear God's voice boom out of a cloud, confirming the accuracy of this understanding, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" (17:5).Jesus is impressed. So impressed, in fact, that he says to Peter, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven" (v. 17). Jesus sees that Peter's declaration is a pure gift of God, and he is thankful for it."You are Peter," he says, "and on this rock I will build my church" (v. 18). Jesus gives him a name which means "rock," saying that Peter will be the rock on which the Christian church will be built. "The gates of Hades will not prevail against it," predicts Jesus (v. 18). The church will be so strong that death itself will not be able to overcome it. Jesus concludes by giving Peter the "keys of the kingdom of heaven," with authority to bind and to loose, which means that Peter now has authority to be the chief teacher in the church (v. 19). (On a side note, in Matthew 18:18, Jesus tells all the Apostles that he is giving them the same authority “to bind and to loose” not just to Peter alone.)The keys of the kingdom are all about teaching, not about who gets in the Pearly Gates. Peter's given authority to teach in the name of Jesus and to share his grace and truth with the world, just as the church continues to do today. So, what can we do to follow the example of Peter in being the right people in the right moments, sharing the right vision and the right understandings?The coach in the movie Miracle says, "Great moments are born from great opportunity." Each of us has a great opportunity to play the role of Peter in the world today, since we share his strengths and weaknesses and have similar opportunities to declare that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God.We are the right people to say that Jesus is our Messiah. We are the health care providers who know that Jesus is the Great Physician, the soldiers and sailors who honor Jesus as Prince of Peace, the students and teachers who grasp that Jesus is the Truth, the politicians who see him as King of Kings and the astrophysicists who look up to him as the Bright Morning Star.We speak at the right moments, when a child is struggling and needs a word of encouragement, when a conflict erupts and can be defused by a message of reconciliation, when a colleague is wandering and needs a word of guidance, and when a friend is dying and needs to hear that Jesus has conquered death.The right vision focuses on Jesus as our sovereign -- the one who rules our faith and life. We look up to Jesus as the one who rules over us with perfect guidance, grace, and love. He is the Master we serve with our time, abilities, and money; he is the Lord who gives us direction as we make decisions about relationships, careers, and family life. To say that Jesus is Messiah is to say that he is "large and in charge." Finally, a right understanding grasps that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. We understand him when we "stand under" him, seeing that he is in a close and intimate relationship with a God who is alive and well and active in human life. Because Jesus is God's Son, he puts a human face on the grace and truth of our Creator. When we understand Jesus, we understand God.Peter was given an opportunity to give a speech about Jesus, and it turned into the greatest ever.He did not miss his moment. Neither should we.

Let us pray.

In today’s Gospel Jesus asks the Apostles “Who do you say that I am?  We pray for wisdom and grace from the Holy Spirit so that we too can share in the faith of Peter and recognize Jesus as the Christ, our Saviour. We pray to the Lord.               

We pray for the Bishops, Archbishops, and Presiding Bishops, the Apostolic Successors in our Church and pray that the Lord give them the strength and courage to continue their work. We pray to the Lord.            

We pray for our Church that it may be a living and true reflection of the light of Christ, a beacon of goodness to the world and a welcoming refuge for the poor, the rejected and those who need to be comforted. We pray to the Lord.            

We pray for all those in our church, men and women, ordained and lay, who have been called to the role of shepherd, that they may follow closely the example of Christ and bear witness to His goodness. We pray to the Lord.                                    

We pray for all victims of the seemingly endless wars around the planet. We pray to the Lord.            

As we approach our Church’s Season of Creation, we pray to our Father in Heaven for a deeper appreciation of the beauty and diversity of all that He has created and a commitment to change our selfish and destructive attitudes and actions. We pray to the lord.                                    

We pray for our farmers, food producers and all who are suffering from the extreme heat and scarcity of water that they may be blessed with abundant rainfall so that their crops may grow strong and healthy and their livestock receive the sustenance they so desperately need. We pray to the Lord.  

We pray to God for an increase of priests, deacons, and religious for our denomination to bring the Good News to all peoples without prejudice. We pray to the Lord.

We pray that those with generous means may be led to our small church and give generously to our mission so that we may continue to be a church open to all peoples. We pray to the Lord.

For those on our parish prayer list, that they may receive swift answers to their needs and that they may find consolation through Christ’s healing presence. We pray to the Lord.

We bow our heads and remember in silence our own personal intentions and the intentions of those who have asked for our prayers (pause). We pray to the Lord.

Father Good, today, we have heard the words of often impulsive St. Peter declaring your Son as the Christ; the Son of the Living God. We offer to you our words, O God — those tiny chips of meaning we spread abroad so easily — and, often, so thoughtlessly. Keep us ever attentive to the impact of our words, particularly the ways they can cause pain or foster insecurity. Make of our speech a force that does not destroy, but rather builds up: so even our voices of protest may serve the greater cause of reconciling the human race to you.

Wondrous and generous God, your gifts are overwhelming: Your sun lights the way for our journey, and your stars puncture our darkness. Your living water quenches our thirst, and your broken bread opens the door to eternal life. Your healing touch binds up our wounds, and your forgiveness washes clean our sin.

St. Peter’s naming of your Son, he spoke words we can only wish we the faith to say. Wondrous and generous God from the four corners of the earth, a chorus of praise erupts. The ocean roars and the trees shout their joy. From the deepest depths of our being, our prayer gropes to find words of adoration. For you are patient and kind, even as we wander, lured by the trivial and attracted by the quick solution. For you are full of compassion and truth, even as we stumble in relationships and hesitate at the doors of justice.

Come now, wondrous and generous God. Bring comfort to those who agonize over broken relationships, who mourn the death of what used to be. Touch those whose bodies need healing. Liberate those whose addictions warp their full potential. Surprise those whose days are filled with sameness and whose joy has ceased.

Come, O God, make this church a place where seeds grow, joy is shared, songs are sung, peace is shaped, dreams are born, sorrow is graced and ripples of love spread. We ask all these things in name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.

God Love You +++

The Most Rev. Robert Winzens

Pastor – St. Francis Chapel

San Diego, CA.

Donations … As a small parish, we come to you all as beggars! Share with us this Christmas, a little sacrifice for the Christ Child. Your generous support also allows us to continue these important projects that fuel the movement of progressive Christianity. Thank you and God bless you! +++

paypal.me/stfrancischapel