Along the way to Caesarea Philippi, Jesus quizzes the disciples with two questions: Who do people say I am; the second one is more challenging: Who do you say I am? 
 
After reporting what people are saying, Peter shows to have understood everything and, on behalf of the others, proclaims: “You are the Messiah,” the Christ, the saviour spoken of by the prophets, and that all the people are waiting. It is hard to find a more appropriate response.
 

Today’s gospel story is set in a pagan land and this geographic location, placed deliberately by the Evangelist is to show that it has a definite theological significance.
 

The first part of the gospel today, refers to a heated dispute between Jesus and, some Pharisees and scribes who came from Jerusalem. They reproach him for the fault of his followers who do not respect the distinction between the sacred and the profane: “They were eating their meal with unclean hands” (v.2) and this casual and provocative behaviour they can only have learned from their teacher.
 

Ang tinapay ng buhay
 
Patuloy ang pag usbong ng mga lugar kainan.  Nauuso ngayon ay mga food-park na kung saan ay matatagpuan ang ibat-bang uri ng pagkain lokal at international. Kahit pa nga sabihin na patuloy na tumataas ang mga bilihin, ang pagkain ang huling titipirin ng isang tao.   
 
Para sa atin ang pagkain ay buhay.  Subalit ano nga bang pagkain ang tunay na mahalaga sa atin. Tingnan natin ang sinasabi ng Panginoong Hesus sa  ebanghelyo ngayong Linggo. 
 

The passage proposes two miracles: one, the healing of a sick woman and the other, raising the daughter of Jairus. These miracle stories carry hidden signs. 
 
The evangelist highlight the number twelve. The unnamed woman is impure for twelve years, while the age of Jairus’ daughter is also twelve. Twelve is the symbol of the people of “Israel”, which is a feminine name. 
 

Today’s Gospel presents the birth of John the Baptist. In the event of a birth, every believer wonders what God has planned for this event and what dreams he raises on each creature. 
 
Luke was a believer; he wrote fifty years after the events and recalled John’s birth and interprets it as an act of “mercy” of the Lord on Elizabeth. The term “mercy” in the Bible indicates Yahweh’s attention, his tender love for anyone who needs his help.

The Passover evening comes and the Twelve disciples meet with Jesus to eat the paschal lamb. They think of celebrating their liberation from Egypt and the Sinai covenant. They become, instead, representatives of the twelve tribes of Israel and witnesses of the new covenant foretold by the prophets and they receive the true Lamb as food. 
 

The allegory of the vine and branches is full of a mysticism alluding to the Eucharist. This is a sacrament where an intimate union with the Lord is celebrated and realised: “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood, live in me, and I in them” (John 6:56). That’s why, before receiving communion, everyone must “examine himself,” to see if he really is determined to remain in the Lord. 
 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus begins with the solemn affirmation “I am the true vine” (v.1).
 
Israel was the vineyard of the Lord, sung by the prophets. She was a vine that had produced abundant fruits of faithfulness, when she was “like wild grapes in the desert” (Hosea 9:10) and Yahweh took loving care of it (Isaiah 27:2-5). 
 

In the Old Testament, God is often portrayed as a shepherd who guides, protects, and nourishes his people (Psalms 80:2; 23); “he gathers the lambs in his arms, and gently leading those that are with young” (Isaiah 40:11). He takes care of Israel that has been brought to ruin by unworthy kings and promises: “I will gather the remnant of my sheep from every land to which I have driven them and I will bring them back to the grasslands. They will be fruitful and increase in number.