Matthew 16:13-20 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 16:13-20 on biblegateway.com
Verse 13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" Verse 14And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." Verse 15He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Verse 16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Verse 17And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. Verse 18And 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. Verse 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Verse 20Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Devotion
Pope John XXIII, with the weight of the whole Roman Catholic Church on his shoulders, sometimes concluded his evening prayers with these words: "Lord it's your Church, I'm going to bed. Amen."
We church folks are perpetually tempted to think it is our weight, our responsibility, our church. But Jesus sets us straight in these verses: "On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it."
Pronouns often betray us. We speak glibly of "my" church or "our" church, but it is always Christ's church-a church we help tend for a tiny slice of eternity.
Before we take up our holy callings, before we put our shoulders to the grindstone, before we make good on all our good intentions, Christ has beat us to the punch, knitting together a body of believers that not even our blunders and mistakes can undo.
Prayer
Disabuse me, gracious Lord, of my vain attempts to do your work for you. Restore to me the joy of receiving the gift of your church. In Jesus' name, Amen.