Friar’s Corner: Big Rock, little rock

Isaiah 22:19-23; Psalm 138:1-3, 6, 8; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20

We find the word rock in several places in the Old Testament symbolizing stability, solidity and indestructibility. Usually, it is applied to God, the creator and everlasting Rock of Israel (Isaiah 26:4). He created the Jewish people and went to help them as their “Rock of refuge and salvation” (Isaiah 17:10). St. Matthew’s gospel today (16:18) is interesting and has caused insight and confusion. Some preachers see two interpretations. One is that Peter is the rock on which Jesus built His church. The other is that Jesus, Himself is the Rock of our salvation. Peter is the “little rock” next to Jesus. Peter was obviously a stabilizing factor within the early church and today. Peter, the apostles and elders in Jerusalem formed a type of council to decide major issues of the early church. Judas had to be replaced among the twelve (Acts 1:26) The first council of Jerusalem decided that Gentile men becoming Christian were not obliged to observe the whole Mosaic Law especially circumcision (Acts 15). Peter, the apostles and elders rendered this favorable decision for Gentile converts. There was prayer and a collective discernment of how to proceed with new converts.

Eye of the hurricane

The Catholic papacy has been something of the eye of almost every religious hurricane in the course of Christian controversy. It is the major obstacle to Christian unity. It is wrong to say that the New Testament offers no support for the claim of having one main leader, now called the pope. It is also wrong to say that scripture explicitly envisions everything that the papacy has become over two thousand years. Historical circumstances have caused certain things to develop, not all good. Peter was accorded by Jesus in a singular position of authority. Yet we are still here and the largest Christian Church.

Matthew’s gospel ends with Jesus giving His great commission, 28:19. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the world.”

Today we recognize the wisdom of having a main leader in questions that can easily become divisive. All of Christianity profits by a single leader with some colleagues who pray and discern our movement forward in faith and tradition from apostolic times. It has been proven historically that the pope is without error only in matters of faith and morals. After Vatican Council II in the 1960s, various Popes have called Synods of bishops, now and then, to discern with him adjustments of teachings for our times.

God’s warnings

Reflecting on the Coronavirus, a number of us sense that God is about to make a reset of the world in a very short time. God has been warning us in many ways in recent times with fires in the west, with churches closing and re-opening, with many restrictions, with tornados, hurricanes, and riots in many major cities.

My eagle’s eye tip is to have a “necessary” supply of things you need. Yet most important is to pray and do some fasting for our nation. Fr. Michael Scanlan had a pet phrase, “Stand under the spout where the glory comes out.” Jesus is the Rock and guarantor of our salvation. Get as close to Him as fish are to water.

Make sure you have a New Testament, (I recommend, the New Catholic Study Edition, red letter edition from Communication Center, 4315 Ralph Jones Ct., South Bend, IN 46628, 800-348-2227; ISBN: 978-89942-311-1) and your own Bible. Have also a physical copy of the Prayer of Christians, the Divine Office, if we lose electricity and are without the internet connection have your own copy to aid your daily prayer life.

Stay safe,

+ Father Bob Hilz
fbhilz@gmail.com

(© 2020 Father Bob Hilz, TOR)