Upon This Rock

Today's Feast brings us back to the origins of the Church, when Peter, after declaring that Jesus was "the Christ, the Son of the Living God," Jesus replies that indeed Peter is blessed and the "rock" upon which Jesus will build his Church." (Mt 16:18).  Jesus further declares that "the gates of the netherworld", (another translation reads, "the jaw of death") will not prevail against it. (Mt (16:19). Thus far, this remains true:  the Church is the oldest institution in our civilized world today, and has withstood many an assault, from within and without.  What must be going through the mind of Peter as he looks over this 2,000 year checkered history with its constant need of review and renewal, its glories and gross sins, its good and bad popes?  He cannot but remember his own journey, especially that moment of blatant denial, but also the mercy and forgiveness of Jesus.  That pattern or failure and rising again in his own life, due to God's mercy and grace, is the pattern in the life of the Church.  We recall Paul's apt description of his life and that of other followers of Jesus, "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." (1 Cor 1:27). Time and time again, the Church as risen from its own ashes. As we honor the teaching authority of the Pope, the Church, and pray for fidelity to the authority of Jesus for him and ourselves may we not doubt and thus insult Jesus, but hold fast to his promise that the Church will accomplish its mission and "the gates of the netherworld will not prevail against it:".
Bro. Rene