Topic: PETER IS THE ROCK
1. STORY
Next to the church where I was living, a company was preparing to put up a new building. The first thing was to dig out a hole as deep as a ten-story building. After this very time-consuming job was finished, a steel frame was constructed in the hole and then the hole was filled with a great amount of concrete. When this deep and strong foundation was finished, the construction company put up a 30-story building. I was sure that this building with such a strong foundation, could withstand any typhoon, storm, or earthquake. As a building needs a strong foundation, so does a Church need a good leader.
2. GOSPEL, MATTHEW 16:13-20
A) JESUS IS THE MESSIAH
There were two types of people. There were those who knew who Jesus was and the vast majority who did not know who Jesus was. Some thought he was John the Baptist, or Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Peter and the disciples knew that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the living God.
B) PETER IS THE ROCK
Jesus gave Peter a new job. He
was the Rock and on that rock, Jesus would build his new Church. This means that Peter would be the leader of this
new Church, and along with the disciples, they would preach the Good News about
Jesus and invite them to be followers of Jesus.
3. APPLICATION TO LIFE
A) KNOWING JESUS
What a blessing it is for us to know Jesus, the Son of God. It’s like having an opportunity to know the Pope or the president of a country. There are two things we must do. First, we must love Jesus, obey him, and continue his work. Second, we must help others to know and love Jesus. The greatest things we can do for others is to introduce Jesus to them. Their lives will change for the better.
B) WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH
Just as the leaders of the Catholic Church have a responsibility to the
whole Church, we as members also have a responsibility toward the Church. First, we must live in peace and harmony with
our brothers and sisters. Second, we
must help needy members of our community. Third, we must invite others to know
Jesus and become his followers by becoming Catholics just as the disciples did.
4. CONCLUSION
A building needs to be built on a strong foundation to withstand storms,
rain, and earthquakes. Only a few people
knew Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus selected Peter to be the rock, the
foundation, the leader of the Catholic Church. We are blessed knowing Jesus. We need to help others to know Jesus, and we
must be good members of the Catholic Church.
