Daily Reflection: 15th Day of Lent

Two more very familiar readings today. Today’s psalm (23:1-6) may be the most recognized scripture in the Bible apart from the Lord’s Prayer. I’m sharing the King James version because it’s the one I know the best and has such beautiful language:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

This scripture is so evocative for me. Not just for its meaning and its beautiful imagery, but for the memories of places and times I’ve been when I’ve heard it. I remember my aunt reading it to me. I remember reciting it in the school nurse’s office when I was young. I remember hearing it read in church many times. And I remember singing several different versions of it through the years. It is no wonder this scripture is so well known - it’s simply beautiful.

The gospel reading (Matthew 16:13-19), has had some controversy attached to it:

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

The controversy is between the Catholic church and the Protestant churches, since it is on this scripture (among others) that the Catholic church bases their belief that Peter was the first pope.

Probably because of my non-Catholic upbringing, the whole idea of a pope has always been a difficult one for me to deal with - not so much in having a leader of a church, because I get that - but in the infallibility of the pope. So, I understand the hesitancy of the Protestant religions to buy into this. But, if you’d like to do more reading or studying on this matter, here is the Catholic church’s take on it and here is a dissenting view. And Google is full of other links (try googling “Peter first pope” or even “on the rock of Peter”).

Either way, it’s still a beautiful scripture.

Dear Heavenly Father,
You are our shepherd and our rock. Refresh our souls, give us courage, and let us dwell in your house forever.
In the name of Jesus the Christ,
Amen

Question for reflection: What do you think Jesus meant by calling Peter the rock?