June 29, 2018

Gospel: Mt 16: 13-19
After that, Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi. He asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They said, “For some of them, you are John the Baptist; for others Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” Jesus asked them, “But you, who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “It is well for you, Simon Barjona, for it is not flesh or blood that has revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And now I say to you: You are Peter; and on this Rock I will build my Church; and never will the powers of death overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you unbind on earth shall be unbound in heaven.”

Reflections
You are Peter; and on this Rock I will build my Church Tradition tells us that Peter and Paul were incarcerated in Mamertine Prison in Rome. On the walls are two plaques with the names of martyrs who were imprisoned there and popes and saints who prayed in these dungeons. Attached to the wall in the lower chamber is a small altar, a column to which Peter and Paul were allegedly chained. At the foot of the altar is an earthen dish. It is bottomless. Story goes that when the guards and co-prisoners of Peter and Paul requested to be baptized, a spring miraculously burst forth from underneath. Till today, water gushes forth.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2018