Dear Preachers:

Well, Peter certainly gets high praise from Jesus in today’s gospel! Peter shows such insight! Such conviction! Such faith! When Jesus asks him who people say Jesus is, Peter first quotes popular opinion. Some thought Elijah, the spectacular prophet who left earth in a blazing chariot with fiery horses, had returned. That was some praise, since Elijah was so highly thought of by the people. They hoped he would come and continue the work for Israel’s freedom and confront unjust rulers and unfaithful priests as he once did. Jesus was showing signs of Elijah by doing what the prophet had done: calling people to repentance, distrust of worldly wealth and power and faith in God alone.

Some people thought Jesus was John the Baptist, or Jeremiah, the suffering prophets. Their mention hints at what lies ahead for Jesus. He will speak of that suffering in the passage following today’s (16: 21-23) when, in a sudden dramatic shift, Jesus will criticize Peter for rejecting the reality that, "the Christ, the Son of the living God" must suffer. Peter goes from being called "rock" to "Satan." But we are getting ahead of the narrative, that’s not where Peter is today.

While the people have their notions about Jesus’ identity, he asks the disciples directly, "But who do you say that the Son of Man is?" Peter gives his now-famous reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Peter identifies Jesus as the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Christ—and "Son of the living God." Since Jesus asked his question to the disciples in general, Peter also speaks for them, as he does elsewhere (19:27 and 26:35). In his confession, Peter also expresses the faith of the church.

Previous to today’s passage the term "Christ" ("Anointed" or "Messiah") is only used in 11:1-6, and there it refers to the servant who brings glad tidings to those afflicted by disease and poverty. In calling Jesus "the Christ, the Son of the living God," the gospel is focusing on Jesus in his role as God’s servant who will gather the people into a holy nation, who will do God’s will----especially the sick, sinners and the outcasts.

How did Peter come to his confession of Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the living God?" Such vision doesn’t come from the accumulation of knowledge or mere human reason. We might read about Jesus and study the gospels, but what enables us to say, "Yes, I believe," to what we are learning? Jesus names the source of that faith when he tells Peter that only the "heavenly Father" could have revealed Jesus’ full identity to him. Thus, Peter is called "blessed," not for his own achievements, but because God has blessed him.

Peter has rock-like faith because God looked kindly on him—as God does on us. It isn’t just that Peter articulates a dogma or teaching of faith. In fact, he will soon return to mere human values and wisdom and reject the role suffering will take in Jesus’ mission. But later, after the resurrection, when he sees more clearly through the gift of the Spirit, Jesus’ suffering will have different meaning for him. Peter will do what all disciples are called to do—voluntarily take up the cross and follow Jesus. Voluntary service and suffering for the sake of others was Jesus’ mission. With our own foundation of rock-like faith like Peter’s, we can freely choose to live according to the gospel---despite its cost.

In a world that repels from self-denial, we choose to make sacrifices to spread the gospel message. In a world that measures by appearance, education and social standing, we choose to be with the poor and those considered outsiders. In a world that has winners for heroes, we choose the side of victims and "losers." In a world that chooses violence in deeds and words as a solution to conflict, we choose non-violence, dialogue and love of enemies.

Such living requires rock-like faith. Neither Peter nor we have it on our own. It is a gift. We are blessed by faith and we bless God for it. The gift enables us to make hard choices. Haven’t we many times altered our lives or made daily choices based on that gift of faith? And when we choose to die to self interests or face death at the end of our lives, doesn’t our faith assure us we will rise again? Indeed, we even experience new life here and now whenever life comes from one form of death or another. Rock-like faith gives us the eyes to see "the Son of the living God" standing with us, renewing our hope and raising us up.

"The gates of the netherworld" shall not prevail against the church Jesus is founding on the faith Peter manifests today. From the gospel we are reminded that God and God alone, is the true rock and foundation for our faith and the church that proclaims it. Peter professes the God-given faith he has received; the church built on that faith is called to do the same, lest the "netherworld prevails against it."

"The netherworld" exerts its influence and makes inroads in the church when we, the church: conform to worldly standards to measure our success; become insular and comfortable; overlook crimes in our midst against the young; become so nationalistic that we stop being a voice for peace; yield to internal gossip and partisanship; reduce worship to formal ritual or performance and when we cease to pray.

What is encouraging about Peter’s response to Jesus is that when the most basic question is put to him, "But who do you say that I am?", he doesn’t parrot what others are saying, but speaks out of his faith. When he needs the right response, despite his usual density, it is there for him. When we need to respond to one challenge of another that life throws at us, the God who was the bedrock of Peter’s faith, will be ours as well.

Jesus tells Peter that he will give him "the keys to the kingdom of heaven," reminiscent of Isaiah’s vison that God’s servant will be given the keys to the House of David, "when he opens, no one shall shut; when he shuts no one shall open" (Is. 22: 15-25). Thus, Peter will be the servant and will guard the household to fulfill the master’s wishes. He will be given responsibility and will have to be discerning, knowing when to cancel debts and when to impose them. Later that power will be given to the community and will apply to the forgiveness of sin (18: 15-18).

Peter and the community will also have to proclaim the coming of the reign of God which, as we saw in Jesus, will require announcing release to prisoners and freedom to those held captive by fear, sin, guilt, disease, poverty and injustice. They will have to open the doors to those seeking refuge and solace and close it to those who come to harm, scatter and enslave.

Our modern church has much work to do in the name of Jesus and we face various challenges to our identity as his followers. In one way or another we are frequently asked, "Who do you say Jesus is?" We are invited to trust today that the One who blessed Peter with his rock of faith will also provide us with the faith we need, so we can say by our words and deeds, "Jesus is the anointed one, the Son of the living God." Perhaps people won’t even have to ask that question for they will see the characteristic signs Christ, the Anointed of God, in our daily lives.

On this weekend as we anticipate Independence Day, and give thanks for the many blessings, which have come to us as a nation, we invite you to pray for our country’s leaders. We are preparing for a national election. The leaders, both local and national who are chosen by our votes will have grave responsibilities for decisions affecting our city, our nation and the entire world community. We ask that you cut out the following prayer and use it daily as we prepare for the November elections.

Give us, O God, leaders whose hearts are large enough to match the breadth of our own souls and give us souls strong enough to follow leaders of vision and wisdom.

In seeking a leader, let us seek more than development for ourselves-though development we hope for- more than security for our own land- though security we need- more than satisfaction for our wants- though many things we desire.

Give us the hearts to choose the leaders who will work with other leaders to bring safety to the whole world.

Give us leaders who will lead this nation to virtue without seeking to impose our kind of virtue on the virtue of others.

Give us a government that provides for the advancement of this country without taking resources from others to achieve it.

Give us insight enough ourselves to choose as leaders those who can tell strength from power, growth from greed, leadership from dominance, and real greatness from the trappings of grandiosity.

We trust you, Great God, to open our hearts to learn from those to whom you speak in different tongues and to respect the life and words of those to whom you entrusted the good of other parts of this globe.

We beg you, Great God, give us the vision as a people to know where global leadership truly lies, to pursue it diligently, to require it to protect human rights for everyone everywhere.

We ask these things, Great God, with minds open to your word and hearts that trust in your eternal care.

Amen (Sister Joan Chittister, OSB)

(Submitted by Anne and Bill Werdel, from the parish bulletin of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Raleigh, NC)

Inmates on death row are the most forgotten people in the prison system. Each week I am posting in this space several inmates’ names and locations. I invite you to write a postcard to one or more of them to let them know that: we have not forgotten them; are praying for them and their families; or, whatever personal encouragement you might like to give them. If you like, tell them you heard about them through North Carolina’s, "People of Faith Against the Death Penalty." If the inmate responds, you might consider becoming pen pals.

Please write to:........................................

---Central Prison 1300 Western Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27606

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Blessings on your preaching,

Jude Siciliano, O.P., Promoter of Preaching, Southern Dominican Province, USA