2023/10/09

112. Successors of the Apostles Part 7

In the scene of his first sermon to the non-believers after the descent of the Holy Spirit in the Acts of the Apostles, the words "the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 2:38) were spoken for the first time by the mouth of Peter. From then on, the Apostles expanded their missionary works in this name, just as Jesus said, "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you" (John 14:26). 

When Petre, in the presence of Jesus, replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16), Jesus testified that this answer was the words of God, the absolute words, saying, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 16:17). This scene must have been engraved into the Apostles' memory. 

The Apostles personally knew Jesus. Therefore, for believers of the next generation, who do not know Jesus directly, to recall by the Holy Spirit every single thing Jesus said through the Bible and to link it to the missionary work, it is essential that they have the experience of knowing Jesus personally through the Eucharist. And the believer's confession before the Eucharist in the Mass liturgy, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," is the absolute foundation so that the experience of receiving the Eucharist may become an experience of knowing Jesus personally. This foundation becomes 'this rock' of which Jesus mentioned, "[O]n this rock I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). 

Thus, when the believers confess the words revealed by the heavenly Father in their own voice to the Eucharist, as Peter did, and 'take' and 'eat' the Eucharist given by the priest with their own hands, as Jesus commanded (cf. blog № 108), the name of Jesus Christ will be gradually fixed in the memory of each one of them and becomes the 'head of the corner.' They will become the successors of the Apostles, who inherit the authority and saving work in the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?" (Matthew 21:42). 

But we, the Church, have not yet fully achieved these things. The following words of Jesus, which he continued, pierce us, "Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it. And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but when it falls on any one, it will crush him" (Matthew 21:43-44). 

To be continued.

Maria K. M.