I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Mt 16:18-19
By the grace of God, Simon, who called himself a sinful man, unworthy to be in the presence of Jesus Christ (cf Lk 5:8), is given a new name: Peter. This is the Greek word for rock, and in today’s Gospel, Jesus promises to build His Church on this rock. Jesus unequivocally gives full authority to Peter and the Church in this passage, powerfully granting to him the keys of the kingdom of heaven. In Jewish culture, a steward would be chosen to hold the keys of authority on behalf of his master during his absence. This steward would have complete charge over the master’s estate until he returned. In the same way, Jesus gives all authority to St. Peter as the head and foundation stone of the Church which he is commanded to establish. All the powers of death will not prevail over the Church.
Jesus also gives the power to “bind and loose” to the Church. This is the grace and mercy of forgiveness of sin that we freely receive in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus is promising to provide for His followers and all who will come to believe in His Name, even when He no longer walks the earth. For over 2000 years, this promise has held true and we can count on it to hold true until the end of time. The gates of hell will not prevail against our Church.
In this time of unrest, it may seem that evil is winning, that violence and unrest may have the last word, but trust in Jesus’s promise. Christ is the Victor; He has won the battle. Keep your eyes focused on Him. The Church is still standing on solid rock. Christ has not abandoned her. He is with us in the Eucharist, in scripture, and in the heart of the Church, even if the doors are closed. Keep watch with Him in prayer. Believe, adore, trust, and love Him.
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