Matthew 16:17-20

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” vs. 18

The disciples had likely seen the temple of Pan at Caesarea Philippi, and had marveled at the water gushing out of the grotto on which it stood. According to one of the legends attached to this wonder of nature, because the ancients didn’t have a clue where all the water was coming from, this feature was known as the Gates of Hades, the entrance to the underworld.

Because he likely knew the story, when Jesus tells Simon that he is now the rock on which the church will be built, he adds that the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. It was a figurative way of saying that there was no force in all the universe that could be more powerful than the Church. And he was right!

In spite of Peter’s clumsy attempts to be a strong and capable leader, in spite of the misfits who occasionally were seated on the papal throne, in spite of periodic excursions into sorry episodes of abuse and corruption, the Church remains today as the universal presence of Jesus Christ in the world. Through a network of diverse denominations and congregations, Spirit-filled men and women continue to proclaim an inclusive message of love, mercy, and justice. And everywhere the gospel is lived and proclaimed, there is bound to be healing and restoration. We can count on it!

Thought for the Day: What difference has the Church made in my life?