Year A
Isaiah 22:19-23
Psalm 138:1-2a.2bcd-3.6 and 8bc (R. 8bc)
Romans 11:33-36
Matthew 16:13-20
The Papacy and the Unity of faith
Last week we were given the opportunity to talk about the Church, today we are given the opportunity to look at one important aspect of the Church, which is the Papacy.
Yesterday's memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary leads us to reflect on Jesus Christ's Kingdom and the three offices in it; the King, the Queen and the Overseer of the house of the King. So today the stress is on the Last Office.
After his resurrection, our Lord Jesus Christ asked Peter to feed his lambs, look after his Sheep and feed his Sheep.
John 21:15-17When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?' He answered, 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my lambs.' A second time he said to him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' He replied, 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Look after my sheep.' Then he said to him a third time, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was hurt that he asked him a third time, Do you love me?' and said, Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep.'
Is obvious that the Sheep Jesus is talking about is his Church which when Paul was persecuting he said Paul was persecuting him (cf.Acts 9:4), because the Church is his body (cf. Colossians 1:24). But why will our Lord ask Peter this if he did not give him an authority as the Shepherd?
In today's readings we realize that Jesus gave him such an authority. He started when he changed his name to Cephas which means Rock (cf. John 1:42). This name rendered in Greek is "Petros" from which we get the name Peter. Thus is our Lord Jesus who gave Simon son of John the name Peter which means Rock.
In Scripture, God is referred to as the Rock and Paul also referenced the rock from which the Israelites drank water from in the desert to be Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 4). Also in Scripture, when God gives someone a new identity, it portrays the person's mission.Thus already by this name our Lord Jesus makes him a representative of him.
When our Lord asked them who people say he is, they mentioned names like John the Baptist, Elijah and Jeremiah. These are people with good names. I wonder what others say about me and you! However the logical arrangement of these Characters is very intriguing;
We have John who Baptize with water and Elijah who defeat with fire and even fire and whirlwind takes him to heaven (cf. 2 Kings 2:11), and Jeremiah, who within his hearts there is a burning fire shut up in his bones (cf.Jeremiah 20:9). There is a progression of Revelation from water to fire to God. Looking at Jesus's Baptism, we see that after Jesus has been immersed into water, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove like how Elijah called fire from heaven to descend on the offering to consume it, and God the Father voiced at that Jesus is his Beloved Son an his favour rest on him (cf. Matthew 3:13ff).
Let me use the Jerusalem temple rituals to explain what am saying. The temple had three part and where God dwelt was the Holy of Holies where the High Priest enters there once in a year. On that day know as the dat of atonement, two sacrifice offerings are made in order to enter the Holy of Holies. The first is sin offerings and the second is burnt offering.
Now when he asked his disciples concerning who he is, they who knew his every action, were finding it difficult to answer. Concerning this same question about who Jesus is, we can remember the high priest Caiaphas did not know who Jesus is and was in doubt about him.
Matthew 26:63
But Jesus was silent. And the High Priest said to him, 'I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.'
What Caiaphas whose name interpret "depression" could not answer Cephas the "rock" answer; "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." And Jesus said to him Simon Son of John you are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. So upon Peter, Christ Jesus built his Church. And He also said the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it and he will give Peter the Key of the Kingdom of God, so that what ever he binds on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever he looses on earth will be lose in heaven.
Since the time of Peter to date this office still stands as the Papacy. Under Peter we are all called to one faith, to listen to the voice of God telling us Jesus is the Christ anointed with the Holy Spirit and his eternal Son who we must listen to.
By Sylvester Amakye-Quayson
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