You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church

22 FEBRUARY (Mt 16,13-19)

Peter is the bearer of a holy mystery upon which Jesus founded his Church. The Gospels tell us each some truths which, added to the others allow us to have the fullness of its truth. Let us read them below these truths.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Kephas” (which is translated Peter).(Jn 1,40-42).

As a result of this, many (of) his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” (Jn 6,66-69).

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).

“Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.” He said to him, “Lord, I am prepared to go to prison and to die with you.” But he replied, “I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows this day, you will deny three times that you know me.” (Lk 22,31-34).

What Jesus says to Peter, applies to all those who succeed him in his ministry. The mystery and the truth of Peter is the mystery and truth of all his successors. Peter is the rock of stability and truth, of grace and holiness, of charity and justice of the Church of Jesus Christ. Only that Church that is founded on Peter is true, perfect and holy. The others are lacking in every guarantee of truth, justice and perfect holiness. They are Churches, but not perfect, not true and not holy. All the fullness of grace and truth of Jesus the Lord does not descend from heaven through them. They are missing the foundation of real stability, subsistence and existence. They are Churches founded on the sand.

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.”

Where Peter is, there will always be the true Christ, the true Holy Spirit, the true Heavenly Father, the true revelation and the true understanding of the Scripture, the true faith, true hope, true charity and the fullness of the grace and truth. There will be the true priesthood and the true apostolic succession. There will be the true doctrine of justice with which to nourish the hearts of believers in Lord Jesus. Without Peter the one who grazes sheep and lambs of the true Christ, is missing; the one who strengthens the faith of those who err is missing; and the rock on which to build our spiritual house is missing. Without Peter we are at the mercy of the error, lies, deceit, confusion, ambiguity and truthful and moral relativism.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels, Saints found us on the rock of Peter.