“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.” – Matthew 16:18
The word translated as “church” in today’s Gospel comes from the Greek word “ekklesia.” It stems from ek, meaning “out from” and kaleo, meaning “to call.” Thus, the church is quite literally the assembly of those who have been called out of darkness and into the light. It is the counter-cultural congregation of those who have left behind an old life in pursuit of a new one.
To explain this further, I’d like to summarize a few points from Fr. Robert Barron’s Sermon 554 about this passage, given on 8/21/11. As a people who have consciously decided to move out of old ways and into new ones, belonging to the Church automatically sets a person in opposition against something. The Church is set against the “world,” which Fr. Barron describes as Scriptural code for a selfish, materialistic, individualistic, and often violent way of life. In contrast, the Christian is called to live in the “city of God” where love, peace, compassion, forgiveness and nonviolence reign.
Moreover, as Christians we are called to do more than simply get along and tolerate worldly troubles. We are called to be different. We are called to be holy (literally meaning “set apart”). Jesus challenges us to go on the offensive against the forces of evil, though always in a nonviolent way. He promises that nothing, not even the gates of Hell can withstand the power of Christian love.
Here again Fr. Barron offers a great insight: So often we read this passage to mean that the Church will survive any attack leveled against Her. What it really implies is that no principality or power of the world will be able to withstand the pervading power of the Church! God’s love will overcome all obstacles, so we should march confidently forward to “conquer evil with good” and transform the world (Romans 21:12).
Indeed, Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the “leader and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2). So with great confidence and hope, let us call all people out of the world and into the City of God by wielding the unstoppable power of caritas against violence, oppression, and injustice.
Lord Jesus, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Increase our faith, that we may always respond wholeheartedly to your call out of darkness. Increase our courage, that we may never fear to call others out into the light. Increase our love, that we may be ever attentive to the needs of our most vulnerable brothers and sisters. Amen.