Posted by The WORD in other words (2010) by Fr Guillermo Villegas SVD – Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City
Thursday 18th Week in Ordinary Time
In Matthew’s Gospel this section functions like a hinge: it completes the first part (chs. 1-12), it commences the second part (chs. 12-28). The first part is completed with the answer to who Christ is: the Messiah (the Anointed, the awaited Savior of the world). The second part explains the work of the Messiah, how he saves the world, i.e., through the Paschal Mystery (suffering, death and resurrection).
Peter plays the secondary role, being compared to a rock. Enlightened by the Father, he confessed Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus, in turn, pronounces Peter as the rock the firm foundation on which he would build his Church.
The image of “rock” is ambivalent.
When Jesus explains that the Messiah has to suffer and die for the salvation of the world, Peter turns into and unbelieving disciple, becoming an agent of Satan. Before the mystery of the Cross, of suffering and dying necessary for salvation, the human spirit reacts negatively. Peter cannot accept the cross; he tries rather violently to dissuade Jesus from going the way that leads to Calvary. The rock becomes a stone that causes others to stumble and fall, to be “scandalized.”
At the start Jesus praises Peter for his enlightened confession: “You are Peter…and upon this rock I will build my church…”
At the end Jesus reprimands Peter for his opposition to the salvific mystery of the cross: “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.”
This narrative should remind everyone in authority to be careful – he/she is like Peter.
When authority (rock) is exercised according to God’s will, it becomes a solid rock on which great things can be built and much good done.
On the other hand, when authority is abused, it becomes a rock of scandal, which causes much harm and destruction, which makes people stumble and fall.
Which rock am I?
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