“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
Daily Reflections
Sunday, 27th August 2017.
Twenty First Week in Ordinary Time
Is 22: 19-23;
Ps 137:1-3, 6, 8;
Rom 11:33-36;
Mt 16:13-20
WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?
The picture of Christ has in the last 2000 years been used as friend of the marginalized, herald of a revolutionary message, conqueror of kingdoms and the protector of the rulers of this world. Jesus is a character that everyone seems to want to have on one’s side. There’s also the Jesus that we carry within us since the years of our childhood. After two thousand years, he never ceases to provoke and question every person, as he did one day near Caesarea Philippi: “Who do you say I am?”
In the Reading from prophet Isaiah, King Hezekiah has chosen Shebna as the Master oh his house. Shebna, an opportunist and corrupt man, against the opinion of Isaiah, advocates an alliance with Egypt. Shebna is deposed and his place was taken by Eliakim, an honest, capable, politically reliable man. Eliakim was clothed in robes of his predecessor, wrapped with his scarf and decorated with his insignia; finally the keys of the palace were given to him. Receiving the keys equalled to getting all the powers in the palace.
In the Gospel, Jesus addresses the apostles two questions. The first is simple enough: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” The second is more challenging: “Who do you say I am?”
Jesus had the admiration of people of all times. He has been the object of esteem and veneration. Jesus, however outdistances them all, for he did not follow the tactics and strategies of men. Even though he gave priority to the hidden life, gradually revealing his project only to intimates, to having overturned all human logic till he offered his life. His followers were not disciples merely because they followed him. His disciple is one who has understood that he is unique, as unique as the person to whom one falls in love, to whom one trusts and for whom one is willing to do anything. It is at this point that Peter intervenes with the surprising answer. He says to him: “You are the Christ” you are Messiah, the savior of which the prophets spoke about and all our people are waiting for. You are the one for whom we are willing to risk our life. Peter gave a correct answer only in form, actually he has in mind a completely distorted idea. He is convinced that Jesus is about to begin the kingdom of God on earth and thinks that he will implement this through a show of force, wonders and signs that will require the attention of all. This was also the opinion of the other disciples who, despite having understood something more than the crowds, they are still prisoners of the common mentality.
In the second part of the Gospel, Jesus tells Simon: “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church …” The interpretation of these words is more difficult than it looks. Why and in what sense Simon is called “rock” on which the church is built? First of all, we note that the “rock” as a basis of the church is talked about other times in the New Testament. This solid, immovable “rock”, is always and only Christ. “No one—says Paul—can lay a foundation other than the one which is already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 3:11). “You are the house whose foundations are the apostles and prophets, and whose cornerstone is Christ Jesus…” (Eph 2:19-21). Peter, in his letter invites the newly baptized to never break away from Christ because he is the living “rock,” rejected by people, but chosen and precious in the sight of God. (1 Pet 2:4-6). The second observation is that the name given to Simon, Cephas or Peter in Aramaic in all probability does not mean the rock, but just building stone. The stone of which Jesus speaks, is the faith professed by Peter. This faith constitutes the foundation of the church, which keeps it united with Christ-rock, makes it indestructible and allows it to never be overwhelmed by the forces of evil. All those who, like Peter and with Peter profess this faith, are inserted, as living stones, in the spiritual building designed by God.
Peter also receives the keys and the power of binding and loosing. Handing over the keys, is to entrust the task of managing. The rabbis were convinced that they possessed the “keys of the Torah” because they knew the Scriptures. They believed that everyone had to depend on them, their doctrinal decisions, and their judgments. Jesus takes up this image in his harsh indictment against the scribes: “A curse is on you, teachers of the Law, for you have taken the key of knowledge. You yourselves have not entered and you prevented others from entering” (Lk 11:52). Instead of opening the door of salvation, they barred them, not revealing to the people the true face of God and his will. Jesus has taken away from them the key of which they abusively appropriated. Now it is only his. The “kingdom of heaven” is now open to every disciple who enters and the key that allows one to enter is the faith professed by Peter. By handing over the keys to Peter, Jesus does not charge him not to be the gatekeeper of heaven. Jesus instead tells him to “become an example to the flock” (1 Pet 5:3). He entruste him to open wide the entrance to the knowledge of Christ and his gospel. Who passes through the door opened by Peter with his profession of faith has access to salvation, who refuses remains excluded.
When Jesus asked the question "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" (Mt 16:13), it was not because he was concerned about his image. It was to see if people's perceptions coincided with reality - whether they really knew him. The answer given showed that the people were wrong. Jesus however, wanted to be faithful to his mission as the Christ. The only expectation he would fulfill was that of his Father, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me" (Jn 4:34).
At one time or other, we also have had to explain who Jesus is for me. Let us reflect, today, upon the depth of our faith and knowledge of the Christ, the Messiah. Seek to discover the “secret” of His true identity by listening to the Father speak to you in your heart. It is only there that you will come to have faith in the Son of God. Let us be moved into a personalized faith in Jesus Christ, to which we also might become testimonies, because this is what the essential core of Christian vocation consists of. Only from our faith and communion in Jesus Christ shall we prevail over the power of evil.
Prayer: Lord, I do believe that You are the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God! Help my lack of faith so that I may come to believe in You and love You with my whole being. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.