Sunday, October 13, 2024  

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Today's Scripture
Matthew 16:13–20

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And 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. 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. I 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.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. (NRSV)

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Reflection

A simple 1860s-era farmhouse has been in our family since the 1920s, when my grandparents purchased it. A lot of settling happens to a house over 150-some years, especially one built on tree stumps and wooden posts, all of them set into sand. The floors? They slope in various directions. The home has … character. Did you lose your marbles? You can pick them up in the northeast corner. And before the dining room floor was leveled, the tilt to the dining table often led to jubilant outbursts, because any beverages spilled would race toward the downhill side, leaving the folks on the uphill side to watch the chaos with glee.

No one ever challenged my biblically grounded grandparents on the problems associated with a house utterly lacking in foundation. Had it happened, though, I can hear the response: “Pish tosh” (my grandmother) or “Great catalpa trees” (my grandfather), “the parables aren’t to be taken literally!” And then someone might’ve started mock-singing the hymn “How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in God's excellent Word!”

Shall we consider how, in today’s passage, Simon came to be called Peter — the rock, the foundation? We could look for a literal representation: after all, Saint Peter’s remains are said to rest underneath the Basilica in Vatican City. How much more foundational can you get? But Jesus wants us to grasp the importance of spiritual foundations. The belief in the unseen. When Simon (Peter) declares to Jesus, “You are the Messiah,” he expresses it not from tangible proof but from divine revelation. Jesus then blesses Peter for his faith in God’s excellent word.

And this is a lesson for us. How often do we look for physical proof of God’s presence? How do we limit our understanding of God when we say “I feel blessed” only on the good days? Peter, I think, reminds us to keep believing without seeing. And what a blessing that is!

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Prayer
Heavenly Lord, thank you for the gift of faith. You, Lord, made the foundations of the earth and caused the morning stars to sing together. May we praise your holy name this day and always. Amen.

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Written by Sarah Forbes Orwig, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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