Today’s Gospel signifies the historic stone-laying of the church. It testifies to its establishment and enthronement of its authority by Christ himself. He was careful in testing the waters before setting up the church community and putting her leadership in a firm foundation that would stand the test of time.
JESUS INTERACTION WITH DISCIPLES
Working alongside his disciples, Jesus knew that people must have formed impressions of him, and he wanted to hear what his disciples thought, so he asked them what people thought of him. The answers were positive. At least, people had a good impression of him. They likened him to great prophets: John the Baptist, Jeremiah, Elijah, or one of their kind.
And to ascertain their own personal conviction, Jesus asked them: ‘but who do you say I am?
PETER’S GREAT CONFESSION
The question Jesus posed to his disciples must be surprising to them. It demanded a personal answer from them, and there was silence. Everyone was quiet. They were all talking and giving answers at the first question of what people know and say about Christ, but difficult for them to give their own conviction and opinion. That is to say that it is possible for us to be following Christ without knowing him, and we need to reflect deeper on that.
I believe the disciples were pondering over the question without getting answers until Peter spoke up and hit the nail on the head, saying: ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’ (Mt 16: 16). Even what Peter answered was not even his own conviction. It was given to him from above as confirmed by Christ. He said to him thus: ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven’ (Mt 16: 17). The revelation confirmed the mind of Christ and his Father working together. As such, he wasted no time in confirming the authority of leadership to Peter.
CHANGE OF NAME AND CONFERMENT OF AUTHORITY
Having confessed Christ in accordance with the will of the Father, Jesus confirmed who Peter was to become. He said to him: ‘I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven’ (Mt 16: 18-19). In fact, Christ not only choose him to be the leader of the apostles but empowered him with the authority of ‘binding and loosing’ in his name over his church and family, and that’s the power with which the church works to date.
As they departed from the scene, Jesus warned them to be silent over the discussion and interaction so as not to reveal his messiahship until the appointed time when he would accomplish his assignment on earth. The same silence is associated with the sacramental seal of confession during Penance. The priest is meant to keep utmost secret of confession as Christ has instructed till the end of time.
CONCLUSION
The Gospel is inspiring and full of lessons. It specifically demonstrates the establishment and enthronement of the authority of Peter over the entire Church family which Christ instituted. It is an invitation to individually know the Lord, be under his leadership, serving him and one another. As such, we are called to keep the faith, maintain and spread it under the leadership of Peter the Apostle.
Peace be with you.
[Readings: Isaiah 22:19-23; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20]
