Sermon – I Will Build My Church on This Rock (Matthew 16:13-20) – August 23, 2026

In the modern version of the Bible, Jesus gives Peter the task of being the leader of the Apostles; he appoints him as the first pope in history and establishes his Church upon him, Peter.

Therefore, today I would like to reflect with you on the fundamental characteristics of the Church of Christ. For this, I will make use of Saint Thomas Aquinas's work , "Commentary on the Creed."

We see that a human being has a soul and a body, but the body is made up of various limbs. Similarly, the Catholic Church is a body and has various members. The spirit that gives life to the Church is the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, after believing in the Holy Spirit, we are also asked to believe in the Holy Catholic Church . This is why the Creed states: “Into the Holy Catholic Church.”

This Holy Church has four characteristics:

1. The Church is One

There are three reasons for this:

First: Everyone who belongs to this Church believes the same thing. “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Ephesians 4:5)

Secondly: Everyone shares the same hope: the hope of attaining eternal life. “For you are called to one hope, which comes from your calling; for the body is one, and the Spirit is one.” (Ephesians 4:4)

Third: There is unity in terms of love, that is, divine love, or caritas . Because all Christians are united in their love for God and their love for one another. In John 17:22, Jesus says: “I have given them the glory that you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”

Therefore, no one should despise this Church or consider expulsion or separation from it insignificant. For there is only one Church , and that is the Church through which people are saved. Indeed, no one was saved except those on Noah's Ark.

2. The Church is Holy

The Apostle says in 1 Corinthians 3:17 : “For the temple of God is holy, and that temple is you.” Therefore, in the Creed we say: “I believe in the Holy Church.”

The believers of this community are sanctified through three realities:

Firstly, just as a church is physically cleansed when it is consecrated, so too are believers cleansed in the blood of Christ. Revelation 1:5: “He who loves us has freed us from our sins with his blood…” (Baptism)

Secondly, through anointing: Just as a church is anointed with oil, so believers are anointed with a spiritual anointing to be sanctified. Otherwise, they could not be Christians. For Christ (Christus) means "The Anointed One." This anointing is the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Thirdly, through the dwelling of the Holy Trinity within man: for wherever God dwells is holy. Therefore, after such great sanctification, we must guard against defiling our souls, which are God's temple, with sin. The Apostle declares in 1 Corinthians 3:17, "Whoever destroys the temple of God…" , and God will destroy him.

3. The church is Catholic. That means it is universal.

Firstly, it is universal in terms of space, because it exists throughout the world. Romans 1:8: “For your faith is preached throughout the world.” Mark 16:15: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

This Church has three parts: one on earth, another in heaven, and the third in Purgatory.

Secondly, it is universal in terms of the human condition, because no one is rejected: neither master nor slave, neither male nor female. Galatians 3:28: “There is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Third, it is universal in terms of time. The Church will endure until the end of time. Matthew 28:20: “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” But even at the end of time, the Church will continue to exist in heaven.

4. The Church is Strong and Unwavering.

A house is solid, first and foremost, if it is built on good foundations .

The true foundation of the Church is Christ. The Apostle says in 1 Corinthians 3:11: “No one can lay a foundation except in Jesus Christ.”

Its secondary foundations are undoubtedly the Apostles and their teachings. Therefore, the Church is strong and unshakable. This is why Revelation chapter 21 states that the city walls had twelve foundation stones, and on them were inscribed the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb .

This is why the Church is apostolic; that is, it is based on the Apostles. And for this reason, to demonstrate the Church's firmness, Peter was appointed as its head.