Upon this Rock

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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 poses this big question concerning His identity to Peter. One can almost hear the intensity and awe with which Peter cries out these words. But Jesus affirms that it is by God’s grace that he knows Christ’s true identity, not his own human wisdom.

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.”

What a beautiful event! God used Peter, a simple fisherman, to utter so eloquently this fundamental truth of the identity of Christ. What follows in this passage from the 16^th chapter of Matthew’s gospel is all the more astounding:

“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. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

This week, Kevin and I along with the other 74 men from our class had the privilege of seeing Pope Benedict XVI at a short distance for the Angelus Address he gave this past Sunday at Castel Gandolfo (the town in which the pope’s summer residence has been for hundreds of years). It was incredible to be so close to Pope Benedict, our spiritual father and teacher.


At the end of his address, after recognizing (in their own languages) several groups that had come to see him from all over the world, he welcomed us! He gave us special words of encouragement that I will cherish forever. He said “I also greet the new students of the Pontifical North American College. Dear Seminarians, do not be afraid to take up the challenge in today’s Gospel to give your lives completely to Christ. Indeed, may all of us be generous in our commitment to him, carrying our cross with faith and courage. May God bless all of you!” 

 (Click here from more pictures)

As if that wasn’t enough excitement for a while, we had a private tour of the papal gardens given by Archbishop James Harvey, the Prefect of the Papal Household (which means he is one of the pope’s principal service men).

Later in the week, we got to go on a Scavi tour, which was an amazing way to follow up our visit with the pope. The Scavi tour is of 1^st and 2^nd century ruins underneath the Basilica of St. Peter which culminates with the tomb of St. Peter and a viewing of the actual bones of St. Peter!!

After these incredible experiences, I find myself in silence, once again in awe that God reveals Himself to us and guides us using such simple means. Peter, a man, human, whose body has worn away like our own will, has been a vessel through which God continues to lead us. It is not because Peter was worthy, it is not because Pope Benedict XVI is worthy, and it is not because we are worthy. In comparison to God, we are all bone and dust. Yet everyone is called by God, in a personal way, to know, love and serve Him. May we do so faithfully until death.

 

On minute 10:30 is when BXVI addresses the seminarians in English.