The Papacy - part 2
In our last reflection, we saw how Simon being renamed by Jesus, from Simon to Peter, was deeply rooted in the Old Testament and was highly significant: it indicated Peter’s role in God’s plan of salvation. We are all familiar with the name Peter meaning rock, indicating a solid foundation on which Jesus’ Church would be built. But what is this Church? In English, the word church can mean several things. But the Greek word used here in the Gospel was ekklesia (or ecclesia) and specifically referred to a group of people who have been called out of the world and to God – an assembly or congregation. So here, church doesn’t mean building or even the ‘institution’, but the gathered, assembled people of God. Again, there are echoes of the Old Testament when the Assembly of Israel would be called out from their homes to gather in the Temple and worship the Lord. We cannot over emphasise the importance of the temple to the Jewish people. ...