Coffee With God

Reflection: Matthew 16: 13-23

The evangelist places the scene in Caesarea Philippi, a place known for the abundance of vegetation, fruits, a fertile land developed by Philip, one of the son of Herod. This locality was formerly called Panias because it was believed that, in this corner of paradise, the pagan God Pan and the Nymphs had established their residence. Philip built a beautiful city here and named it Caesarea, in honour of the emperor Tiberius Caesar. The place offered all the luxuries and happiness of the world. The two names of Caesar and Philip were combined to create the name of the land as Caesarea Philippi. It is here Jesus chooses to question his disciples. To those who believe in Philip, he offered all the luxuries and joys of life. What does Jesus offer? Can Jesus assure something better than Philip? So he questions, “who do people say that I am?” People regarded him as one of the eminent personalities, like John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the ancient prophets (vv. 13-14). Their admiration for Jesus in undeniable. However, the respect and veneration are not sufficient to be regarded as his disciples. Therefore, the more intimate question: “Who do you say that I am?” When Peter makes the profession of faith, he is perhaps not aware of what it implies. The continuation of conversation clearly shows that Peter, in fact, did not understand anything of Christ. Peter’s understanding of the Messiah must have been of a god who behaved like Pan and Nymphs. Jesus renamed Simon— as Cephas- in Aramaic and it does not mean rock, rather it simply meant “construction stones.” The rock on which the Church is built is Christ himself and the profession of faith by Peter and all the believing community is the stone with which the Church is built. All those who, like Peter and with Peter, profess this faith, are the living stones which constructs the Church of God. The expression “the gates of hell” represent the power of evil. They indicate all that is opposed to life and works of God. Jesus assures that nothing can prevent the church from completing its mission of salvation. Peter also receives the keys and the power of binding and loosing. These two images are often used by the rabbis. The rabbis were convinced of possessing the “keys of the Torah” because they knew the Scriptures. They believed that everyone had to depend on their doctrinal decisions and judgments Jesus takes away this key from them, which they appropriated abusively and now hands it over to Peter. He is not assigned to be the doorkeeper of paradise. Instead, Jesus tells him to “become an example to the flock” (1 P 5:3, to open wide the entrance to the knowledge of Christ and of his gospel to everyone. The one who passes through the door opened by Peter with his profession of faith encounters salvation; those who refuse remain excluded.