“I BELIEVE IN ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, APOSTOLIC CHURCH.”

Jesus said to them:

”But, who do you say that I am ?”Simon Peter replied: “ You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”…and Jesus answered him:  “Blessed are you, Simon Bar – Jonah!*** For flesh and blood have not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.  And I tell you:You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall NOT prevail against it.I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.”   (Mt.16:14) 

CC 25 …. What did Jesus want to know from His disciples ?

In the first place He desired to know what men, in general thought about Him: “Who, do men say, the Son of Man is ?” (Mt.16:13).

The Apostles replied giving Him the same answer, the expression of common human ignorance regarding His identity:  “Some say (you are) John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” (Mt.16: 14)

THE REVELATION

In what was the Lord more concerned ?

Christ was more intent on knowing what His own Apostles, as distinct from His other followers in the crowd, thought about His identity ?

So He asked them:

“Who do YOU say I am ?”                                                                                                 Simon Peter replied: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Mt.16: 15)

What was Christ’s reaction to this declaration ?

Upon hearing that declaration, regarding His identity, Christ immediately makes Peter aware of the privilege that had been accorded to him by God the Father:

“Jesus answered him: ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood have not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”   (Mt.16:17)

Simon, therefore, unlike anybody else, is the subject of a direct REVELATION from God regarding the true identity of Christ.

This means: “Simon, you are blessed because you have been taught by my Father, and you have not let yourself be deceived by human views, but have been instructed by a heavenly Revelation.’’ ( St. Leo, the Great Pope: Disc. On the 4^th Anniversary of his election, 2,3; PL 54, 149 – 151).

It is virtue of this Revelation, that Simon, in the name of the twelve, makes his profession of faith in the Divinity of Christ:

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Mt.16:15)

Extracts by kind permission of  HG Mons. Sylvester Magro ofm, Apostolic Vicar  of Benghazi.