Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church
(Super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam)
Introduction
The liturgy celebrates today not so much that Peter was the bishop of Rome than what his function is. In answer to Peter’s profession of faith, Jesus appoints him the Rock on which the Church is built. As Peter himself knew very well, the shepherd is the model of his flock, dedicated to the service of the people of God.
1 Reading: 1 Peter 5:1-4
Beloved:
I exhort the presbyters among you,
as a fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christ
and one who has a share in the glory to be revealed.
Tend the flock of God in your midst,
overseeing not by constraint but willingly,
as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
Do not lord it over those assigned to you,
but be examples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd is revealed,
you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 23:1-3a, 4, 5, 6
R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Alleluia: Matthew 16:18
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church;
the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
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.”
Commentary
Today, we read the Matthean version of yesterday’s gospel from Mark. (Better to re-read Mark 8:27-33). The impetuous Peter, who famously lacked courage later on, had courage on this occasion. “You are the Christ,” he said, “the Son of the Living God.” Jesus confirmed this with extraordinary emphasis, “It is not fresh and blood that revealed this to you, Peter, but my Father in heaven.” He said to Peter, equivalently, “You have spoken with the voice of God!” Peter must have been walking on air. But not for long! Later, when they were coming down the mountain and Jesus began to speak about the suffering and death he would have to face, Peter protested strongly (he was probably still feeling very important after that extraordinary confirmation). “Get behind me, Satan!” said Jesus, with fury. (It must have been with fury, because these were extraordinarily harsh words.) Poor Peter! Speaking one moment with the voice of God, and next moment with the voice of Satan! The heights and the depths! Of all the people in the New Testament he was the least like a rock! That nickname must have been a joke. But Jesus said to him, “On this Rock (petros, in Greek) I will build my Church.” Rocks are unchangeable, immobile-and also dead; but Peter was highly changeable, and a very living being. The metaphor is on ‘solidity’! How solid is your faith in Jesus the Son of God? Knowing that the Christian faith, despite the fumbles and turbulent waves, is built on a solid rock.
Blessing
Who do we say who Christ is? With Peter we profess that he is the Christ, the Son of the living God. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!