Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish

FR MICHAEL BIBLICAL IMAGERY

(Fr Michael Boakye Yeboah: Vice Rector of St Gregory Seminary, Kumasi-Ghana)

THE ROCK OF AGES

            Rock is a symbol of strength and stability. It is a symbol that together with the symbol of a key, Jesus uses to respond to Peter’s declaration on his real identity. Before we take a look at the meaning of the symbolism of the rock and the key, let us reflect on why Jesus choose Caesarea Philippi of all places to confirm his real identity to the world. At Caesarea Philippi of all places this amazing carpenter stands and asks his disciples: “Who do people say the Son of man is?”

            I would like to think that Jesus choose Caesarea Philippi for some reasons but chief among them may have been the religious character of the place and the person the place was named after. Caesarea Philippi lies about twenty-five miles northeast of the Sea of Galilee. It was outside the domain of Herod Antipas, who was the ruler of Galilee, and within the area of Philip the Tetrarch.

On the religious character of the place; historians tell us that Caesarea Philippi was a non-Jewish town and a home for numerous gods, temples and worships. People went there to seek all kinds of things from the gods. I would like to think that Jesus, by his confirmation of his identity, wanted to bring to an end the worship of many gods in that non-Jewish town and offer an eternal alternative to them. Indirectly, Jesus told the people that ‘this man Simon is being conferred with the title the “rock” and his confession of faith will bring to light a new Church. With the Church as our rock, people may not need numerous gods who are just the work of human hands.

            The Caesarea Philippi episode tells us something today.  The silent worship of idols in every town, state, or country may surpass the ones in Caesarea Philippi. People are associated with so many idols in our contemporary society. It is heart breaking to hear that a growing number of Christians seek security in life from idol allegiances and membership of all kinds of occultic associations. Who are those advising our lay faithful? But the “tornado effect” of my heart breaking is some rumors I hear of late. Some people are of the opinion that some men of God do not trust Jesus and his Church as “The Rock of Ages” and so they have entrusted their cause in life to the devil. They seem to be dining or in bed with the devil. I hear they are doing this because of their conviction that, what they seek in life, it is the “devil” who can offer them the quick answers. If these rumors are true, it is shameful and those men of God should bow their heads in shame. No matter the position you occupy in the Christian fraternity, you are a disgrace.

            I never thought the 21^st century would be a home for worship and promotion of idol/satanic worship but it seems it is gaining ground. Jesus wants to tell us that no matter what people say about one shrine or god; his Church is the authentic place one can find security, strength, stability, and salvation because he is the Rock.

            In Caesarea Philippi, there was a great temple of white marble built to the godhead of Caesar. Many people in the Roman Empire saw Caesar as a god (a kind of rock) on whom the Roman Empire depended for its security. Jesus may have used the location to tell his people that he is the only reliable rock and no other rock can bring them safety and security. Jesus was right because the Roman Empire and Caesar who were deemed as solid rocks have since diminished but Jesus and the Church still reigns. Jesus who is the Church is our only Rock of Ages. Do you remember the old church hymn: “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Save me from its guilt and power…” This song makes me to remember the famous statement of General Napoleon Bonaparte. He said: ‘I know men, and Jesus Christ is more than a man.’

            I would conclude my reflection with my explanation on the symbolism of the rock and the key. In the Gospel two metaphors dominate Jesus’ response to Simon Peter’s confession of faith: the images of a rock and of keys. Both originate in the Old Testament, are continued in the New Testament and, as the Gospel shows, ultimately are applied to the Church founded by Jesus. First, we consider the metaphor of the rock. In the Psalms God is repeatedly called the rock, meaning the foundation that one can depend on unconditionally: “My help comes from God, he alone is my rock” (Psalm 62:3). His divine Word is the perfectly trustworthy Word, even when it becomes man and thereby becomes the Savior of the people: “And the rock was Christ” (1Cor 10:4). Without abandoning this quality Jesus permits Simon Peter to share in it: “You are the rock, and on this rock, I will build my Church.” The Church will also participate in this quality of unconditional trustworthiness: “The gates of hell shall not prevail against her.” This quality can only be transferred through a perfect faith, which is by the grace of the heavenly Father, not by Peter’s fine human insight.

            The second symbol/metaphor is the key. Actually, the second quality is found already in the quality of being a rockhard foundation. This second quality is the authority symbolized by the transfer of keys to a trusted servant of the king and the people. In those days keys were very large; thus in the first reading the servant can have the “key of the House of David” placed on his shoulders, almost like a cross, certainly as a burdensome responsibility. It is authoritative power: “When he opens, no one shall shut; when he shuts, no one shall open” (Isaiah 22:22). In the New Covenant it is Jesus “who has the key of David, who opens and no one can close, who closes and no one can open” (Rev. 3:7). This is the chief key to eternal life; to it belongs also the “keys to death and the netherworld” (Rev. 1:18).

            And now Christ gives the man, Peter, upon whom the Church is to be built a share in this power of the keys that penetrates the other world: what he binds or looses on earth shall be bound or loosed in heaven.

            Now the song of praise for God in the second reading can sound forth as a conclusion: how rich, indeed how inscrutable are God’s plans, including those relating to the Church. “Who has been his counselor?” How could his Church have been better instituted, better adapted to the modern, present day world? Again and again today this Church established on the rock of Peter and on his power of the keys proves to be the best possible one. Be proud to be a CATHOLIC, for you are part of the Church founded on the rock – Jesus Christ.