Gospel of Matthew, chapter 16:13

In today’s Gospel (Matthew 16/13-20), St. Peter is placed in the position of leadership in Christ’s church. He is given a new name – – “Rock.” What qualified Peter for this leadership role was his passionate faith and his willingness to risk himself in favor of that faith. Every successor of St. Peter has been placed in this position of leadership in the universal church by God’s providence. This is part of the hierarchical organization of the church. It is not for us to sit around and scratch our heads over this. Like St. Paul, in his letter to the Romans (Romans 11/33-36), we must recognize that God’s ways are not ours. How “inscrutable” and “unsearchable” are the ways of the Lord. St. Paul did what we must do. He simply gave thanks. St. Peter was not perfect by any means. He denied Jesus three times after the Lord made him head of the church. He tried to dissuade Jesus from his mission, and the Lord rebuked him, saying: “Get behind me Satan.” (Matthew 16:23). But, who among us has not failed the Lord? There have been good Popes, and bad Popes, just as there are good Christians, and bad Christians. The church, as the parable of the wheat and weeds makes clear, is a mixed bag: (Matthew 16:13). It will only be perfected if we strive to be perfect, and that means everyone in the church from the greatest to the least among us.

The question addressed by Jesus to Peter: “Who do you say that I am?” is addressed to each one of us. For Peter to say that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, is a profession of faith of the first order. This profession of faith could only be a gift of God. It declared that for Peter and for all people of faith, Jesus is the Son of God, the saviour of the world. The positioning of Peter as the highest authority in the church, confirmed that Jesus’ messianic work would succeed and that it would continue by the power and governance of God for all ages.

In today’s scripture, we are invited, like Peter, to make a personal response of faith to who Jesus is and who He is for us. The way we respond makes all the difference to the church to which we belong, and to our mission as Christians in the world.

Fr. Hugh Duffy