Peter Has Spoken!

Gospel Reflection for August 27, 2023 - Matthew 16:13-20

And Jesus came into the quarters of Caesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: Whom do men say that the Son of man is?

But they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?

Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.

And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.

And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.

Then he commanded his disciples, that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ. (Matthew 16:13-20 DRA)

Living as Christians in the Church today, divided as it is by countless heresies and schisms, it can be easy to see the Church as a mere collection of those who share belief in Jesus, an invisible Church without an hierarchy or sacraments except in some cultural traditions. Since a large portion of Christians today live out their faith in this way, one could imagine the early Church as if it followed a similar format, with a “simpler,” less developed organization and ritual expression. This view, however, is simply unbiblical and unhistorical, contrary to the design of the Church from the very beginning, both in her Jewish precursors and in the pattern established for her by Christ. The Church is, in fact, a kingdom, given by the Father to Christ, in which the apostles sit on royal thrones in judgement upon the priestly people of God united in one Eucharistic communion; this kingdom is the fulfillment of the kingdoms of the ancient Israelites, hence Christ’s messianic title, Son of David. (Lk 22:29-30; Mt 21:9)

The readings for this Sunday highlight a key element (no pun intended) of this heavenly kingdom: the special office and authority of St. Peter. It could be said that there is no other doctrine that separates Christians from the fullness of the Catholic faith more than the papacy. There are at least some non-Catholic Christians who share every other belief held by the Church, except allegiance to the pope. Like any other claim (especially ones made online), this can be disputed, but that is not my intention here. I also know that there have been many excellent arguments put forward in support of the papacy, especially extending from this Gospel reading, and for a fascinating connection between the first reading from Isaias and the Old Testament typological foundations of Peter as the new “master of the palace” and keeper of the keys in Christ’s kingdom, I highly recommend Dr. Brant Pitre’s video on YouTube, “The Jewish Roots of the Papacy.”

In this reflection, however, I would like to quote from a few sources in the Church Fathers which I think provide great insights into the meaning of this Gospel reading and which, by their early date, clearly support both Peter’s unique role as the first pope and the succession of his ministry in the papacy, as well as the subordinate sharing of his Petrine authority by the other apostles. While Peter’s charism was given as the result of his profession of faith in the divinity of Christ, a faith shared by those in communion with him, it can be seen from these quotes, and from Simon’s change of name which is always momentous in Scripture (e.g. Abram/Abraham, Jacob/Israel), that Peter with his papal authority is truly the rock by whom Christ, who is Himself the Rock and cornerstone of the Church, is represented on Earth, a ministry unbroken to this day and uniquely ensuring the oneness, holiness, catholicity and apostolicity of the Church against all corruption and worldly assaults.

When the Lord enquires concerning the opinion of the multitudes, all the disciples answer; but when all the disciples are asked, Peter as the mouth and head of the Apostles answers for all, as it follows, Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. (Chrysostom, Catena Aurea)

According to this promise of the Lord, the Apostolic Church of Peter remains pure and spotless from all leading into error, or heretical fraud, above all Heads and Bishops, and Primates of Churches and people, with its own Pontiffs, with most abundant faith, and the authority of Peter. And while other Churches have to blush for the error of some of their members, this reigns alone immoveably established, enforcing silence, and stopping the mouths of all heretics; and wet, not drunken with the wine of pride, confess together with it the type of truth, and of the holy apostolic tradition. (Cyril of Alexandria, Catena Aurea)

See how Christ leads Peter to a high understanding concerning himself. These things that He here promises to give him, belong to God alone, namely to forgive sins, and to make the Church immoveable amidst the storms of so many persecutions and trials. (Chrysostom)

But this power of binding and loosing, though it seems given by the Lord to Peter alone, is indeed given also to the other Apostles, and is even now in the Bishops and Presbyters in every Church. (vid. Matt. 18:18.) But Peter received in a special manner the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and a supremacy of judicial power, that all the faithful throughout the world might understand that all who in any manner separate themselves from the unity of the faith, or from communion with him, such should neither be able to be loosed from the bonds of sin, nor to enter the gate of the heavenly kingdom. (Rabanus, Catena Aurea)

After the reading of the foregoing epistle [the Tome of Pope St. Leo], the most reverend bishops cried out: This is the faith of the fathers, this is the faith of the Apostles. So we all believe, thus the orthodox believe. Anathema to him who does not thus believe. Peter has spoken thus through Leo. So taught the Apostles. (Council of Chalcedon, Session II)

Two quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church also help to explain the doctrine of the papacy and its establishment as described in this Gospel reading:

Simon Peter holds the first place in the college of the Twelve; Jesus entrusted a unique mission to him… Christ, the ‘living stone,’ thus assures his Church, built on Peter, of victory over the powers of death. Because of the faith he confessed Peter will remain the unshakeable rock of the Church. His mission will be to keep this faith from every lapse and to strengthen his brothers in it. (CCC 552)

The ‘power of the keys’ designates authority to govern the house of God, which is the Church. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, confirmed this mandate after his Resurrection: ‘Feed my sheep.’ The power to ‘bind and loose’ connotes the authority to absolve sins, to pronounce doctrinal judgments, and to make disciplinary decisions in the Church. Jesus entrusted this authority to the Church through the ministry of the apostles and in particular through the ministry of Peter, the only one to whom he specifically entrusted the keys of the kingdom. (CCC 553)