Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today is the Sunday of the great contrast. It is the Gospel of Peter’s act of faith. Jesus brings his disciples to the region of Caesarea Philippi which is the backdrop to Peter’s confession. This region was rocky, full of water, luscious, and was sacred to some of the pagan and political powers of the day. This region was dedicated to Caesar (political power) and to the god of Pan and Hermes, and the symbols of these worldly allurements would’ve been proudly displayed. It is here that Jesus brings his followers and asks Peter his famous question. Will you claim me in this world as God?
When Peter does exactly this – profess his faith in Jesus as his king, his God, and the one true God – Jesus makes Peter the rock of his authority on earth. Amidst the rocky backdrop of their conversation, Jesus says that Peter will be his rock, the rock of his church. Unlike the rocks of that region that housed false idols for worship, Peter as the rock of the Church would be where Jesus would build a church for true worship.
The great contrast: Peter chooses Jesus in contrast to what the world displayed in that region. Jesus choose Peter as his rock in contrast to the false security offered by the rocky retreats of worship of that region.
Jesus as the living God founds his living Church on the living rock of Peter. If we, like Peter, claim Jesus, Jesus will desire to make us a channel of his grace to others within the bark of the church. Let us choose Christ today!