Jesus founded His Church in the shadows of Caesarea Philippi, a city named after and built by the Roman emperor (Mt 16:13). In contrast, Jesus' Church had no land or buildings. It was just a few common people.
Jesus founded His Church on Simon Peter, a simple Jewish fisherman, rather than on the mighty Roman emperor or other worldly powers (Mt 16:18). Jesus implied that His Church would be victorious not by inflicting suffering and death but by sharing in His sufferings and death. Jesus paints the picture of a poor, weak, and suffering Church, at least by the world's standards.
Amazingly, this Church holds the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Mt 16:19). It can attack and conquer Caesarea Philippi and all Satan's strongholds (Mt 16:18). Whatever it binds or looses on earth is bound or loosed in heaven (Mt 16:19). This is the Church of Jesus Christ.
| PRAYER: | Father, mold me and the Church according to Your plan. |
| PROMISE: | "The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah." –Jer 31:31 |
| PRAISE: | Pope St. Sixtus II was pope only one year before he made the ultimate sacrifice of martyrdom for his Lord. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College