I WILL GIVE YOU THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

At 12,1-11; Ps 33; 2 Tm 4,6-8 .17 -18; Mt 16,13-19
29 JUNE
Peter was constituted by Jesus the Shepherd of Shepherds and of sheep. If he wants to live his ministry according to truth and fidelity, he must be in the heart of Christ as Christ was in the heart of the Father. He must always dwell in the Holy Spirit of Christ just as Christ lived in the Holy Spirit of the Father. Moreover, he must love the Church with the same love of Jesus the Lord, sacrificing his whole life for her. His love is Christ and the Church. He must keep watch to make the body of Christ ever more beautiful. Making himself model of how the body of Christ is built, every other person will take from him an example and he will also dedicate himself to this mission of salvation and redemption. Salvation is not from Christ alone, but it is in Christ, with Christ and through Christ. Peter must work so that every man may be brought to Christ, but always according to the laws of the Gospel and of faith, that is, inviting every man, but leaving him in his will.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” (Jesus) said to him, “Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me” (Jn 21,15-19).

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. So (also) husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “For this reason a man shall leave (his) father and (his) mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church. In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband (Eph 5,25-33).

Peter will have to preserve the Church in the purest truth of Christ. This is why he exercises a unique particular charisma: the charisma of infallibility. It is a charisma that must be exercised and lived according to special rules that are given by the First Vatican Council. The Second Vatican Council extended this charisma also to the Ecumenical Council, whose natural leader is Peter. And everything will have to take place with Peter and under Peter. Without Peter, against Peter, there is no infallible teaching. What is not defined as infallible might never be called infallible. It belongs to the ordinary magisterium to be read and interpreted according to the laws and the rules of the ordinary magisterium. A difference of no little importance.

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 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. 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.”

As Christ is from the Father, so Peter is from Christ. This truth is his essence. He too must always be able to say: “He who sees me, sees Christ”. Perfect identity.

Queen of the Apostles, Angels and Saints give us a convinced faith in Peter our Shepherd.