the proximity of Christ’s blessing and subsequent condemnation of Peter struck me in a recent read of Matthew’s gospel:
Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
followed just three verses later with:
Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men.
I heard a homily not too long ago where the priest was really driving hime the point that Christ meant it when he called Peter Satan. I wish I could remember why…
Comment by claire — Thursday, January 25, 2007 @