In Matthew’s gospel there is a pivotal moment not only in the recognition of the disciples of the nature of Jesus, but also in the revelation of God’s will in the establishment of the Church.

It is when Peter, in response to Jesus’ question, "Who do you say that I am?" declares that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah.

In the Aug. 23 bulletin to the congregation of All Souls Catholic Church in Sanford, Father David Vivero notes that in Peter’s response it is not the intelligence of a man that is shown, but the will of God being enacted through Peter.

“It was not just Peter speaking on His behalf, or talking loudly, but God working in Him already,” Vivero said in the bulletin. “That this unique, unrepeatable role of Peter, MADE HIM, the foundation of the Church, again not just by his own effort, but by the will of the Father.”

There is a humbling, encouraging message in the act of faith displayed by Peter, Vivero said.

It is humbling, because it shows that the growth of the Church and the accomplishments through the Church are not things in which the humans serving the Church should attempt to claim glory. Yet, it is encouraging as well, because it reminds that the faithful are not dependent on their own strength in fulfilling the mission of the Church, but that God will accomplish His will through His strength.

“The commissioning, the blessing, the ministering that we held so sacredly and dearly, was applied to the disciples by Jesus Himself to make followers of all nations during His ascension,” Vivero said to his parishioners.

Through this, the faithful are both called and empowered.

“The new role of the apostles and us is... understanding the identity of Jesus, that has been revealed and granted to us, by the one who gives new identity, new life, in work and in our decision making,” Vivero said.