The morning started in a mad rush to the heart of Roma! Starting the perfect day was a tour of the Vatican Museums! Tapestry, paintings, frescos, and mosaics are only the beginning of a long list of artforms found in the museum. The most incredible moment came as we stepped through the door of the Sistine Chapel. To witness Michelangelo's masterpiece was astounding and to describe it would be near impossible.
Last night, I blogged and promised to describe what it meant to me to sing in the Vatican. Touring the museums even further enforced these feelings because they are the combined tribute to the ultimate case of Grace. To sing in St. Peter's Basilica means a great deal to me, not as the target of a pilgrimage, but as a tribute to the ultimate case of grace. Simon Peter is one of my favorite people in the Bible. He got to walk with, talk to, learn from, and follow Christ. Still, it wasn't enough for Simon Peter to merely follow Christ. Christ wanted Peter's name, his identity. Christ said, "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church." (Matthew 16:18)He literally changed Simon son of Jonah's identity. Names, at the time, were sacred and representative of a person's character. The very essence of a person was captured in their name. When Christ changed Simon's name to Peter, He literally changed his identity. "Peter" literally means "Rock". Just as Christ predicted in at the Last Supper, Peter denied knowing Christ three times before the rooster crowed the night of Christ's betrayal and crucifixion. Even knowing this, Christ still named Peter the Rock of His Bride, the Church.
Matthew 7:14, "Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Though I may trip and fall on my face while finding my way through this narrow gate, Peter's humble and devoted return to Christ reminds me of the grace given to me in salvation. A church constructed in honor of Peter is a church constructed in honor of what defines his and my life. I am being given the rare privilege of getting to praise the Almighty God in a memorial built to give tribute to the thing that saves me: grace.
Love and peace,
Katie Hodge
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
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that's awesome K. Makes me so proud that you aren't seeing just the beautiful tangible but are finding a way to tie it back to the Father. Love you. Be careful! :)
ReplyDeleteyou cannot imagine how jealous of you i am. this was the first time that i have been able to get on the blog. i am so proud of you. i am so happy that you get to be in such a beautiful place. i love you very much. let me or mom know if you need anything. see you when you get home. -your sister who is green with jealousy.
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