Upon This Rock

Matthew 16:13-20

The great spirituality writer and priest, Henri Nouwen, made a fascinating interpretation of this text--we are not to hear it as an individual, personal event in the life of St. Peter, but rather as a universal call to all people of faith. 

PETER

Peter is the apostle who comes across as the most fully developed character in the Gospel. All four evangelists describe Peter as an actual human being. He is tempestuous, temperamental, impulsive, fallible, a husband, a fisherman, and a failure. But he is also the foundational stone for the community of faith that will rise from Christ. 

In other words, we can all find ourselves in him somewhere. 

As when Peter fumed at the attention James and John garnered (cf. Mt. 20:20), we, too, get irritated by others’ arrogant claims to rise above us. As when Peter jumped into the sea fully clothed (cf. Jn.21:7ff.), we, too, act first, think second, and get all wet. As when Peter sinks beneath the waves in mortal terror (cf. Mt. 14:22-33), we, too, get overwhelmed by our fears, doubts, and terrors, losing sight of God and all faith. As when Peter denies the Lord (cf. Mk. 14:66-72), we, too, deny those whom we love when we feel lost, lonely, and out of options. 

And as Peter makes his confession of faith here and really means it with all sincerity, we, too, confess our faith in all sincerity.

That confession of faith makes all the difference.

THE POWER OF CONFESSION

A confession of faith changes the perspective. It is our confession, but the focus now shifts to God. 

Peter cuts through all public opinion, which like most PR, runs from hyperbolic silliness to misdirection to simple self-centeredness. He gets to the heart of the matter. Jesus is our savior, named and claimed by God for the redemption of all the world. 

It no longer matters who or what Peter is. He places himself in the confines of God. It is now about God, God’s Word, and God’s action. 

That is the real and actual power of faith. As we believe, we find there is more than what we bring to the table. As we believe, we open ourselves to the work and wonder of God and God’s love. We know our real and actual fallibility. As we read through the stories of Peter, I always find myself smiling--yes, I have been there, done that; haven’t you, too? But as Peter confesses Jesus as Christ, he enters the realm and redemption of God’s love. It no longer matters that Peter can’t think straight all the time. It does not matter that Peter makes promises he can’t keep in and of himself. He is with God. God will take whatever raw material God gets and shape it into the stuff of faith. 

Our weakness, fallibility, missteps, and whatnot become bridges to one another. We can relate. We can sympathize. We can empathize. We can throw a knowing arm around a sad shoulder, offering real and actual compassion rooted in shared experience. 

That is the dynamic of grace--we don’t have to get it right before God accepts us; we need only accept God.

THE FOUNDATION

As compassion grows, the proclamation becomes more real. We can speak of grace because we have known grace. We can speak of forgiveness because we have been forgiven. We can speak of love because we have been loved.

Peter will enter the world as a knowing evangelist--I found God in Jesus, and I found hope, help, and healing--here’s how it works! Read Peter’s sermon in Acts 2. It is a sudden recognition that God’s story is his story. As God walked with his frail and fragile children through the ages, so, too, has God walked with Peter. And God wants to walk with all people in the same fashion. 

That is our work as the Church. We are not to hide behind walls of doctrine, hurdles of behavior codes, and fortresses of membership rules, we are to love one another and the world as we have been loved by God.

That begins with simple welcome. Peter’s task will be to welcome those whom he meets into the fellowship of grace. Now, Galatians and Acts reveal (again) the total humanity of Peter as he has problems with Paul preaching to outsiders and non-believers, but Peter came around. He saw the power of grace at work. He grew into the call to welcome all who come on God’s terms instead of his own. So, too, we are to continually examine our fellowship--do we welcome any and all? do we welcome without hindrance, hurdle, or halt? 

A foundation is also a graceful term--the building rises; it is not already built. 

We are building the fellowship of grace. Our work is not done, and it is not perfected in any sense of the word. The Reformers placed that thought into the basic doctrine of their theology--reformed, and always reforming. So, too, should we. We are always growing and developing as a community of faith. We would be building, as the old hymn sings.

So, Peter is us; we are Peter.

Accept this identification, for it brings more deeply and more closely into the confines of Christ.

There is no better place to be.