(c)MaryTV 2012
St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
"Upon this Rock I will build my Church"
J.M.J.
January 30, 2013
Dear Family of Mary1
"Dear children! Also today I call you to prayer. May your prayer be as strong as a living stone, until with your lives you become witnesses. Witness the beauty of your faith. I am with you and intercede before my Son for each of you. Thank you for having responded to my call." (January 25, 2013)
There is another Scripture that comes to mind, when I read Our Lady's words. It is from Matthew, Chapter 16:
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. 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: 15-19)
St. Peter (Rock) is one of the first "living stones" in the spiritual edifice of the Church. He was chosen by Jesus to become the Rock upon which the Church was built. He was the bedrock, the firm foundation necessary for the erection of the living Church.
And how did Jesus know that Peter was the one? He gave the apostles a pop quiz!"Who do you say that I am?" And Peter got 100%! "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Now what this says to me is that Peter must have had strong prayer, because he was hearing from the Father. He learned who Jesus was from the Father in heaven."Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven." And so, Peter's prayer was "as strong as a living stone". Peter was equipped through prayer to bear the weight of the Church on his shoulders. He was hearing from the Father. It was the sign Jesus needed. Jesus had found "the living stone".
We know that Peter was not perfect. He went through many trials and humiliations before he was ready to carry the load of the Church. But, because of his "strong prayer" Jesus knew he would always find his way to the truth, to the good. And we now have the Church as our strong foundation, thanks to Peter, the Rock.
May our prayer be as strong as "a living stone"! May we be hearing from the Father in prayer! And may we all pass our pop quizzes!!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2013
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