This morning we found ourselves journeying away from the northern shores of the Sea of Galilee, steadily climbing for a distance of twenty miles to Caesarea Philippi, a village located in the northernmost part of Israel. It was here where the famous exchange between Jesus and Peter took place, found in Matthew 16:13-20.
After the long journey on foot and a difficult climb, Jesus asked them, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” One can’t help but think of a possible question from the disciples, “Jesus, why did you take us all the way up here to ask us this simple question!?” But after looking around this site, it starts to make sense.
Upon surveying the scene, one immediately notices the massive rock towering overhead. Surrounding you are historical markers signifying the place of the many temples, which were erected to pagan gods, from Zeus, to a dancing goat. Finally, as you look to the base of the rock, you see cold fresh water gushing out of a spring up the mountain. From this rock comes living water.
Jesus takes them here to say, “What God am I to you?”
This encounter comes at an important moment. Jesus realizes his hour is near. It is time to lay the foundations for the Church, which will then - after he undergoes his Passion -become the vehicle by which all are carried to salvation.
Peter’s confession that Christ is the “Son of the living God” demonstrates that he is already guided by the Holy Spirit, for as Jesus says, “flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.” At Jesus’s word, Peter becomes the authoritative voice of God in the world. Here Peter becomes the first pope.
And so the stage is set. The Church founded on rock will become our means for receiving Christ, the living water, the source of life.
Once we had returned from Caesarea Philippi, we were blessed to make our way back to the site of the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes on the Sea of Galilee. Here we saw the rock upon which Jesus multiplied the loaves to feed five thousand. Now resting over top this rock is an altar.
For more than 1,700 years, Christians have gathered here to watch the miracle continue to unfold, now in the Bread of Life, the Eucharist. With His very self, He no longer feeds thousands, but millions. This night as our knees hit the ancient mosaic floor, we too witnessed this Church founded on rock by Christ Himself. And yes, from this rock we call the Catholic Church, continues to flow living water.