On the pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2014, one of the places we visited is the site of today’s gospel reading, Caesarea Philippi. At this site is a large “rock”, approximately 500 feet long and 200 feet high. At the time, there was a temple located nearby. At the base of the rock was a cavern to a spring whose depth could not be measured, and was considered to be the gates of hell.
There are two important aspects of Catholicism found in today’s gospel reading.
In Jesus’ time, Kings often appointed a “prime minister”, someone who in the absence of the King, had the full authority of the king. In essence, he had the “keys” to the kingdom. The Prime Minister had all the same authority and power as the King. It is at this site, Jesus told Simon:
And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
In this passage from scripture, Jesus assigns Simon a new name, Peter, which means rock, and appoints him as prime minister by giving him “the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.” All of this in the physical presences of a rock, a “church” and the “gates of the netherworld”. Today, we call the office held by Peter, the Pope. Just as Peter was the leader of his fellow apostles, the Pope is the leader of his fellow Bishops.
The passage continues:
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
This is the basis for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, also referred to Confession. In this passage, Jesus gives the authority to forgive sins to the Peter and his successor Popes. The Popes have passed on that authority to the Bishops and Priests. Catholics must confess their sins before Priests (or Bishops) because that is what Jesus instructed. They have been given the authority to forgive, or not to forgive, sins.
As we continue our Lenten journey, make plans to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, knowing it is one of the things Jesus wants us to do.
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