Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He 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-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.    Matthew 16:13-18

Some years ago, our son, Joel, pedaled his bike across the United States from California to New Jersey. Coupled with love of biking, he also was performing an experiment in exercise physiology while a medical student. After Joel returned home, we had many conversations concerning his journey. At one point, he shared his observation that people he met along the way asked two different kinds of questions.

Some wanted information for themselves:
   - Why are you making this trip?
   - Is this the first time you have made such a journey?
   - Do you think you will ever do it again?

Others wanted to offer him help:
   - Are you tired?
   - Are you hungry?
   - Do you need a place to stay for the night?

When Jesus asked his disciples, "But who do you say that I am?" he did it not to gain information for himself, but rather to help his disciples understand who he was. Peter got the point and quickly responded, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And so it was that on this bedrock confession of faith the church of Jesus Christ is built.

Recall the words of Nikolai F.S. Grundtvig:
   "Built on a rock the church shall stand,
    Even when steeples are falling;
    Crumbled have spires in every land.
    Bells still are chiming and calling -
    Calling the young and old to rest,
    Calling the souls of those distressed,
    Longing for life everlasting."

God, our Father, help us to live our lives in faith, remembering the words of your Son: "I am the way, the truth, and the life - He who believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." Amen

Contributed by Tom and Jeanne
Sunday May 13, 2007
Liturgical Year C Week 24