Building the Ark of the Church
When Jesus heard the confession of St. Peter that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” Christ acknowledged Peter’s “good catch” of faith. God created the receiving hands and heart of Peter, and the pass thrown by God the Father was grasped by the strength that God gives.
But speaking a great confession was only the beginning for Peter. He would join Jesus in a great future building project. The Architect of the Church would describe the blueprint with these words: “Blessed are you, Simon… I also say to you that you are Peter [meaning “little rock”] and upon this rock [a word for rock meaning large rock edifice, for Peter’s confession of Christ] I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not overpower it.” (Mt. 16:17a, 18). Peter – like Noah — also made a good catch of the pass thrown by God. And in reverence and mercy (the very Rock he confessed), he was able to recover a fumbled faith and to keep building the church of Jesus.
You and I do fumble God’s pass of being faithful. Like Peter, we fall into the trap of denial – picking up keys to escape a threat, rather than the cross of self-sacrifice. But we should all-the-more solidly grasp our sacred calling, and keep building. After all, no other ark will triumph over the gates of hell and the cataclysm of the judgment of the world, other than the one Jesus is building.
We call the Church sanctuary where we worship, “the nave,” (where we get the word “navy.”) Every time we worship, we are reminded of the ship of faith, its Architect, and its course. Our purpose while on board is not lost on us: much work needs to be done to care for the flock also on board.
Catch that vision from God, and you will have an abundant life, reaching the destiny God charted for you: life forever with Him in His Home port.
Prayer:Lord God, we thank You for passing us the throw of salvation in Christ
and for enabling us to catch it by faith. Bless our journey, that we might contribute
the gifts we have to continuing to build Your Church, the ship of the saved. Amen.
