Attacking Evil
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Thursday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Matthew 16: 13-23 - Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“…you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Jesus builds the Church upon Peter and his profession of faith, “You are Christ, the Son of the living God.” Then Jesus goes on to say that the “gates of the netherworld shall not prevail” against the Church. Jesus is talking about a battle of life versus death, a battle for souls. Usually, when we think about this battle for souls, we think of evil attacking or tempting the good. And this certainly happens, but the Gospel today shows us a different perspective. In this Gospel, good is called to seek out and destroy evil.
Jesus says the “gates” of the netherworld shall not prevail. Gates are not weapons in this battle. Gates are meant to hold people in someplace or to keep people out of someplace. Jesus is saying that the Church is supposed to storm the gates of hell. The Church that Jesus speaks of is meant to attack; it’s meant to save souls from evil, from death, from guilt, from ignorance, and also from poverty, injustice, hunger, violence… We are members of the Church of Christ, built on Peter. How are we called to attack the enemy? In prayer, consider how we may actively fight sin, evil, injustice, etc.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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