A trust and confidence that astonishes

This Sunday, our readings offer a reflection upon the character of those entrusted by God to serve a people. The first reading from Isaiah reports that Shebna, the secretary to King Hezekiah of Judah was removed from his office because he criticized the prophet Isaiah, whom the king highly regarded. The king appointed Eliakim to replace Shebna and granted him great responsibility and authority. This royal elevation suggested that God regarded him highly as well. In particular, Eliakim was granted the keys of the house of David. These keys opened the gates of the city and, thus, controlled who came in and went out. 

This Old Testament reading offers a fitting introduction to this Sunday’s Gospel, which focuses upon Peter, an individual also entrusted by God to serve a people. Jesus and his disciples were in the region of Caesarea Philippi when he asked them, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Mt 16:13). The designation “Son of Man” reflects the diversity of titles existing among Jews regarding messianic expectations. The disciples’ responses vary to include John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or another of the prophets. Then Jesus asks the question again and, this time, directs it to the disciples. “Who do you say I am?” (Mt 16:15). 

Peter, who has already shown his unbridled propensity to step forward and respond in these situations, (recall in the readings two Sundays ago, his faltering walk on the water to meet Jesus) forwards an immediate reply. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). Simon Peter boldly testifies to Jesus’ incarnate nature as one with God, as the Son of God. 

In turn, Jesus meets Peter’s declaration with a blessing and an assignment of a new role of service and responsibility. First, Jesus declares Peter is blessed (makarios in Greek), meaning one as claimed by God. Jesus also informs him that it is the Father who has revealed to Peter this understanding of Jesus. 

Next, Jesus entrusts him with a new responsibility of service. First, Jesus identifies him simply as Peter (petros in Greek, meaning rock) and then declares, “Upon this rock I will build my church” (Mt 16:18). Further, much like Eliakim in this Sunday’s first reading, Peter is granted the metaphoric “keys” to the kingdom, that is, the responsibility for this community that manifests the distinctive divine presence that Jesus has talked about so much in his parables. Thus, with regard to the community that he will serve, Peter is also authorized to “bind” and  “loose” (Mt 16:19) what is permitted or forbidden within this new community, an ability that will later be shared with the other disciples (Mt 18:18).   

Despite Jesus’ entrusting Peter as servant for the new community called “Church,” Peter’s judgment often appears quite flawed. Two Sundays ago, though hurrying to walk on the water to meet Jesus, he quickly surrendered to doubt and began to sink. Next Sunday, when Jesus tells his disciples that he will suffer, Peter will object, at which point Jesus will identify him with Satan. On another occasion, Peter will ask Jesus how many times he has to forgive, as if he intends there to be a limit. Before Jesus’ arrest, he asks Peter to watch and pray with him in the garden but, instead, Peter falls asleep. Finally, during the arrest and trial of Jesus, Peter succumbs to fear, and he denies Jesus three times.  

Despite all these shortcomings, Jesus entrusts him with the responsibility of being the foundation of the church. Yet, all these fumbles, perhaps, reveal something more about our God than about the servant Peter and those of us like him, to whom God continually assigns gifts and responsibilities. Though we will falter at times, the confidence and trust that our God has in us humans is both humbling and astonishing. It is a belief in us that far exceeds the level of confidence we have in ourselves, often manifested in our unwillingness at times to be self-forgiving. Further, this divine trust in us can also be a reminder to continue to trust the work of other men and women in our lives and to resist blaming when they, too, come up short in their tasks. This Sunday’s readings assure us that, despite our failings and missteps while doing our part for God’s Kingdom, each ministerial vocation manifests God’s unfailing, unfathomable and confident trust in us. Paul’s observation for the Roman community becomes a fitting reflection for us today: “How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways” (Rom 11:33).