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A studying from the Gospel of Matthew
When Jesus went into the area of Caesarea Philippi
he requested his disciples,
“Who do individuals say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
nonetheless others Jeremiah or one of many prophets.”
He mentioned to them, “However who do you say that I’m?”
Simon Peter mentioned in reply,
“You’re the Christ, the Son of the dwelling God.”
Jesus mentioned to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, however my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you’re Peter,
and upon this rock I’ll construct my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail towards it.
I gives you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
No matter you bind on earth shall be certain in heaven;
and no matter you free on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Reflection
This well-known passage from Matthew’s gospel is the inspiration of the primacy of Peter within the Catholic custom, whose successor we all know because the pope. It is sensible. Jesus places the definitive query about his identification to his closest associates and Peter steps to the plate and professes confidently, “You’re the Christ, the Son of the dwelling God.” His reward for this recognition? A spot of authority within the Christian neighborhood on earth and past!
This glowing reference to Peter is so well-known amongst Catholics that we generally learn it as if it’s the one factor we find out about his character! We discover safety on this passage, realizing it established an immutable apostolic custom and that we might be proud and assured right now, as Peter was, in our career of religion.
We overlook that Peter’s story, like every of ours, is way more difficult. In Mark’s account of this scene in Caesarea Philippi, Peter professes Jesus’ true identification after which instantly rebukes him! (Mk 8:32-33) And Jesus rebukes him again saying, “Get behind me, Devil!” It’s the one passage within the New Testomony by which Jesus refers to an individual as “Devil.”
When Jesus first calls Peter within the gospel of Luke, Peter tries to get away from him, acknowledging, “I’m a sinner.” (Lk 5:8) Everyone knows how the story unfolds. Peter, the “rock,” finally ends up denying Jesus, the identical Jesus he proudly proclaimed to be “the Christ!” Thankfully, being a sinner and a coward doesn’t preclude an individual from being a disciple of Jesus.
“I’m a sinner… I’m afraid. I’m weak. I’m a hypocrite. I’m damaged. Lord, depart from me.” Throughout Lent, once we deliberately mirror on our sinfulness, Peter’s story can present us some comfort. Jesus didn’t select Peter due to his righteousness and braveness. He selected Peter as a result of he was imperfect, difficult, a sinner. Christian discipleship isn’t a badge of honor or a reward for some nice accomplishment; it’s a recognition that sinners have a spot at Jesus’ aspect. And having skilled mercy and therapeutic at Jesus’ aspect, we have now authority to testify from our personal expertise.
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