Two Pillars

 

Matthew 16: 13-19 

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

¹³ When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

¹⁴ So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷ Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth ^[b]will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

We need to reflect at length on today's Solemnity which honors two great pillars of our Church, Saints Peter and Paul; without their deep faith, their indefatigable efforts, courage and inexhaustible love , we would not be here today.  When Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, he set the bar for us:  clear, direct, firm, uncompromising. Paul, not yet on the scene, comes later after a 180 degree about face and joins Peter in spreading the Faith. Celebrating them and answering the call to continue their witness and preaching is imperative today in our fractured, unsure world.  What is right?  What is wrong? What is truth? Who is Jesus???   Saints Peter and Paul, strengthen us and help us be true followers of Jesus called to make him present to our world in our day."

Bro. Rene