A Devotional: The Rock

“Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Heavenly Father…you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” [Matthew: 16:17-18]

God gives us infinite treasures that can help us on our journey to holiness and ultimately to Heaven. With an open heart, we can find those treasures when we look at life through a spiritual lens. Those spiritual treasures are different for each of us because each of us is unique by God’s design.

Upon This Rock

Now imagine yourself on a spiritual treasure hunt.  See what you can find to help you move forward on your journey. Could you find such a treasure in a rock? It’s possible. When Simon Peter said to Jesus, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God,” Jesus replied: “Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Heavenly Father…you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.”

Through the strength of his faith, Peter recognized Jesus as the Messiah, thereby making Peter the foundation of the Church – that is the community – Jesus gathers to join Him in God’s the Heavenly Kingdom.  However, Peter was not always strong or as steady as a rock. Peter cried out in fear in the stormy seas when he tried to walk on the water toward Jesus. When Jesus rescued Peter, our Lord said, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” [Matthew: 14:31]. Peter doubted again – denying three times of ever knowing Jesus – when Christ was arrested.

O You of Little Faith

We can take comfort in Peter’s fear as well as in his faith. In today’s increasingly secular world, our faith can be easily shaken. We become scared and often succumb to society’s pressures even when we know society is headed in the wrong direction.  If we rely only on our own resources, instead of relying on our Lord, we become confused and lost on life’s journey.

However, when we reach out to our Lord who gives us the strength to hold onto our faith in Him, we can recover just as Peter did. Like the rocks used as markers to help hikers on difficult trails, the grace of God and the strength of our faith can keep us on the right path and help us to guide others on the journey to holiness and Heaven.

Steady as a Rock

For this journey, we must constantly remind ourselves that we are not alone. Forever united with Jesus Christ, our Blessed Mother can help us find those spiritual treasures that keep us directed toward Heaven because Mary pondered everything in her heart. By the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary had the strength to keep her heart open throughout her lifetime and had full faith and trust in God’s word, His way, and His mercy.

Mary put herself in God’s hands and never pulled away.  Steady as a rock, Mary gives us her maternal love – just as our Lady did with the Apostles – to support and comfort us on our journey to where sin and death will not prevail.