Traditional Catholic Teaching - Lesson 2

Lesson 2 - Supplement B

"You Are the Messiah" – "You Are the Rock"

Matthew 16: 13 – 20

Introduction

The scene where the above words in the title were spoken is a secluded northern spot near Caesarea Philippi built by the Tetrarch Philip to honour and ingratiate himself to the "divine" Emperor of Rome.

At last Jesus is alone with his disciples for a few days. For nearly three years he has been revealing himself concerning his divinity. It is now time for Jesus to take a decisive step!

Some Notes On the Text

Verse 13

Bearing in mind the setting for this event, we need to note that when Jesus takes his disciples aside in this way, it is always for in-depth instruction, for rest, and for prayer: all in a harmonious balance. This occasion is no exception. As is so often the case, out of such a time together, momentous understandings arise.

Jesus asks his disciples:

"Who do people say the Son of Man is?"

Verse 14

They reply that he is referred to in a variety of ways such as: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets. The answers are kind, but unsatisfactory. Why do the disciples (we are talking of the twelve apostles) not mention the belief that Jesus was the Messiah? Quite simply, Jesus had successfully demonstrated that he was definitely not the kind of messiah-figure the general populace wanted to follow.

As they came to realise that, they gradually gave up listening to him. The crowds were generally convinced that he was a holy man but definitely not the Messiah.

Verse 15

Jesus quietly, perhaps rather solemnly, accepts their reply. At an appropriate moment, equally quietly, he asks:

"But what about you. Who do you say I am?"

Verse 16

Without delay, having listened to all of Jesus' explanations as to why he is not the popular image of the Messiah who would lead Israel out of Roman bondage, and having listened to the gripes and bitter criticism of Jesus by many would-be followers, Simon (or Simon Peter, or just Peter as he was later called) now answers our Lord from the depths of his soul.

"You are the Anointed One. You are the Messiah (in Greek, Christ). You are the Son of the Living God!"

Verse 17

Clearly, warmed and profoundly moved by this beautiful declaration never before heard from human lips, Jesus in turn addresses Simon in words never before applied to a human being. We paraphrase his reply:

"You are greatly blessed, Simon, Jonah's son, for this was not revealed to you through human means. This was revealed to you personally by my Father in heaven. You have heard all the human reasons why I am not good enough to be the Messiah, and you have rejected them all. Thus my Father has found your soul open to receiving the truth from him, and it is this you have just proclaimed."

Verse 18

Jesus continues:

"And so I now tell you that you are the Rock (in Greek, Petros from which we derive Peter). On this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it!"

This is a beautiful and unique moment. Each man has attributed to the other, a title of great Biblical significance. It is a critical moment as the Messiah is fully identified on the terms he chose. It is also a turning point for the twelve and for Simon, who, in memory of this occasion, continued to be called Rock; or in English (retaining a link with the Greek text of this Gospel) Peter.

Sadly for the Church, one and a half millennia later, this single verse became the most hotly debated in the whole of Scripture. Great cataclysmic eruptions within Christianity have taken place as factions have fought each other over its meaning, and caused irreparable damage. The gates of hell will not prevail over the Church but it had better not continue to pursue its current course of self-destruction, which is gaining a frightening momentum.

To help us in our meditation on this beautiful passage we offer in an appendix, two viewpoints. These will help us clarify our own understanding and respect that of others. (We urge our readers to read this appendix.)

Verse 19

Jesus adds to Peter's newly declared position within the twelve:

"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven".

Verse 20

This amazing episode closes with our Lord demanding that the disciples do not tell anyone what they heard Peter say!

Conclusion

It is natural for us, if we have been taught to disbelieve Catholic claims about St. Peter and his appointment by Jesus as leader of the Apostles, to feel uncomfortable with such matters. We offer this meditation material to help you see how the Church has consistently understood our Lord's intentions and his great concern for and love of His Church as it carries on his work. Only by prayer and meditation can we come to understand and value this.

We invite you to read two Catholic writers on the subject: one ancient and one modern.

End of Lesson 2 Supplement B

Appendix: Two Viewpoints on Matthew 16: 18

Back | Index | Next