This Sunday’s Gospel reading, Matthew 16:13-19, is one that is often pointed to by Catholic apologists as proof that Jesus did indeed establish His Church on Earth, with Peter as its head.

“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.”

Jesus was pretty explicit here, and Peter’s front-line role in many other parts of the New Testament make the Catholic teaching that Peter was the first Pope pretty clear. Rather than defend this point, I feel inclined to point to another facet of this reading — the existence of great hope.

Christ is building His Church — our Church — on Peter. Peter! This is the same man who would react to the glorious transfiguration of Christ by recommending that three tents should be built (Matthew 17:1-4). What? This is the same man who would draw his sword, lash out in anger, and cut off the right ear of Malchus (John 18:10). This is the same man who would deny his knowledge of Jesus three times during Our Lord’s passion (John 18:17-27). Yet this humble and sinful fisherman was good enough to be the first leader of our Church!

Jesus came for us — sinners (Luke 5:32). If a man who has shown extreme anger and disloyalty at the worst of times can become the Pope, then what can we hope to achieve? Anything! While we may make mistakes and choose sinful and selfish things over Christ on occasion, if we show the great faith of St. Peter, we can repent, get back on track, and accomplish anything through Christ.

Just as Pope Benedict XVI has reminded us of the virtue of Christian hope through his encyclical, Spe Salvi, our first Holy Father, St. Peter brought us great hope. We must remember in times of great trial not to lose sight of the tremendous hope brought to us by Jesus. A faithful life based upon this redemptive hope will lead us to salvation. What more can we hope for?