In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus asks the disciples who people are saying Jesus is. The answers are interesting; many people think that Jesus is either John the Baptist or one of the Old Testament prophets returned to continue their work. Then Jesus asks them pointedly, who do you say that I am? Simon Peter boldly responds that he believes that Jesus is “the Christ, the son of the living God.” Jesus acknowledges that he is correct, and that it is only through the Father that he can know this. Then Jesus goes further, proclaiming Peter to be the Rock upon which Jesus will build His church, and that the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. Can you imagine the other disciples’ reaction to this revelation? Can you imagine Peter’s?

There is comfort in what Jesus told Peter and ultimately tells all of us…the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against Jesus’ church. We live in disturbing times; wars that continue despite efforts to end them, various ecological issues, political unrest in our country and abroad, many societies becoming less God-fearing. Despite it all, we need not fear. We have Jesus’ assurance that evil will not prevail; Jesus has already won the final victory. Do you believe that? If Jesus were to ask you today who you say He is, what would your answer be? Can you answer with the conviction that Peter had? If you can, then there is  nothing to fear. However, there is work to be done. If Peter is the Rock, we too are building blocks. We in turn are the rocks upon which the Church will continue to be built, and it is up to us to be a strong base for those who will come after us.

Reflection by parishioner John Ceglarek