He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, 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. (Matthew 16:15-18 NABRE)
Saint Peter was a friend of Jesus. At some point during their friendship, God revealed to Peter some understanding of the divine nature of Jesus and of the purpose of his presence here. His friend was more than a teacher or a prophet. He was the one God had promised to send as a savior for his people. And more than that, as Peter became aware, Jesus was God's own son. It is almost too much to take in.
In today's passage, we read the moment when God's son, the second person of the Trinity, installed Peter as the head of his church and empowered that same church to withstand all threats of evil for all time. Jesus' church will endure. As has been said, the battle has already been won. And we are undeservedly and impossibly blessed to share in God's promise of eternal salvation.
Today, on this Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, I will recall the continuity of the Church established by Jesus himself, the leadership of which was made human in the person of the first Holy Father, Simon Peter, and I will pray especially for Pope Francis and his intentions.
Saint Peter, whose office we still honor today, pray for us.
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