Peter’s confession about Jesus

WHEN Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

REFLECTION UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH. Rock, petros in Greek and kephas in Aramaic, symbolizes sturdiness and strength. Since the Church is founded on rock, the jaws of death shall not prevail against it.

Jesus commissions Simon Peter as the rock, the firm foundation of the Church, after he has confessed that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. It is Simon Peter’s faith in Jesus that makes him a fitting foundation for the community of believers.

The forces of evil are symbolized as the “gates of the netherworld.” The antidote to these evil forces is faith in Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God, who brings glad tidings to the poor, proclaims liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and release to prisoners (cf Lk 4:18).

“The just one who is righteous because of faith shall live” (Hb 2:4).