"...You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.....you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church." Mt 16
For some, this passage from Matthew's gospel is justification for papal authority, for a pope in the first place. I don't think Jesus intended to establish the modern papacy with this statement. What I heard this morning as I sat with these words was "intimacy." Peter knew Jesus, and Jesus knew him. Isn't that what intimacy is, knowing and being known? Something we crave to have with another human being, but more profoundly, with God?
"God and I, we're like this!" one might say, holding up a hand with two fingers crossed, as close as they can get. Peter recognized Jesus as the one who was to come, the messiah, even if his understanding of Jesus' mission needed a little work. And Jesus knew his friend. He knew that his life and his words would be critical to bringing God's kingdom.
Even if Peter's "rockness" was more like sandstone than granite, who he was would be important in spreading the word. Read More