Today's Gospel forms the basis for the ordination of priests and pastors and the aurthority given them. The Pope is the bishop of St. Peters and is considered part of a lineage that dates back to St. Peter. He wears the shoes of the fisherman.
Peter or Petros means rock thus Mat_16:18 is in part a play on words.
The OT Lesson in Isaiah talks about our roots, the foundations of our faith. Psalm 138 recognizes God as the rock of our salvation.
The Epistle deals with our identity as Christians. We as members of the church are Jesus' body on Earth.
Peter's confession in today's Gospel settles the question of Christ's identity. Bound up in that question and its answer is the reason for the Disciples following this Rabbi and our reason for being members of his church.
Matthew begins his Gospel by placing Jesus in a gealogical lineage that leads back to Abraham, who our OT Lesson establishes as the root of the Nation Israel and the Jewish Faith. Roots are important to Matthew. Jesus lineage traces from Judah, Jacob's eldest son through Obad and Ruth to King David and finally through his Father Joseph who married Mary.
Abraham's covenant with God binds his descendents to keep the Law and the Prophets who define Israel's relationship with their God.
Psalm 138 is a song of praise to the God who keeps that promise.
Romans 12 defines our identity as members of Christ's body the church.
Peter or Petros means rock thus Mat_16:18 is in part a play on words.
The OT Lesson in Isaiah talks about our roots, the foundations of our faith. Psalm 138 recognizes God as the rock of our salvation.
The Epistle deals with our identity as Christians. We as members of the church are Jesus' body on Earth.
Peter's confession in today's Gospel settles the question of Christ's identity. Bound up in that question and its answer is the reason for the Disciples following this Rabbi and our reason for being members of his church.
Matthew begins his Gospel by placing Jesus in a gealogical lineage that leads back to Abraham, who our OT Lesson establishes as the root of the Nation Israel and the Jewish Faith. Roots are important to Matthew. Jesus lineage traces from Judah, Jacob's eldest son through Obad and Ruth to King David and finally through his Father Joseph who married Mary.
Abraham's covenant with God binds his descendents to keep the Law and the Prophets who define Israel's relationship with their God.
Psalm 138 is a song of praise to the God who keeps that promise.
Romans 12 defines our identity as members of Christ's body the church.
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