21st Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A - Rock of the Church & “Music of the Mass | Latin Hymns”

There’s a story that is popular in the Dominican Republic about a king who wanted to touch the moon. So the king called the royal carpenter and said, “Build me a tower that is high enough to touch the moon.” The carpenter said, “Your majesty, this can’t be done.” “It will be done,” said the king, “or I’ll find myself another royal carpenter.” So, the carpenter came up with an idea, “If we could collect enough wooden boxes, they could be stacked on top of one another and perhaps make a tower that was high enough to touch the moon.” “Let it be done,” said the king, and he sent out his soldiers to collect all the wooden boxes in the kingdom—boxes that were used to store books, boxes which were used for food or clothing, even boxes in which people had been buried. All were collected and built into a high tower. It was high indeed. But of course, it was not high enough to touch the moon.

“We need more boxes,” said the king. “Cut down all the trees in my kingdom and use the lumber to make more boxes to add to the tower.” And it was done. Now the tower was immensely high, and the king began to climb it. He climbed up higher than the birds, higher than the clouds to the very top of the tower. But, he could not touch the moon. “We need more boxes,” cried the king to the carpenter below. “There are no more boxes,” said the carpenter, “you’ll have to come down.” “Never!” said the king, “I am the king and I want to touch the moon. If there are no more boxes, then I command you to start bringing up the boxes that are at the bottom of this tower.” It was done. And, of course, everything then collapsed in utter ruin.

Now, the story is an absurd one, but it resonates with the sad experience of many people throughout the world, people whose countries are ruled by dictators or despots who are only concerned about their own power. They want to touch the moon, to go higher and higher regardless of the cost.

In today’s Gospel (Mt 16:13-20), Jesus presents to us another kind of power as he gives Peter authority in the church. But, Peter’s authority is not to be the highest of all, but rather the lowest of all. Peter’s role is to be the rock—the rock on which the church will be built. So, instead of climbing higher and higher over the resources and the lives of others, Peter’s role is to be the solid foundation upon which the lives of others can be built. In Jesus’ vision, true authority is not the authority of importance. It is the ability to ground and enhance the lives of others.

True authority is not the power to touch the moon. It is the sacrifice and love of laying down one’s life for the sake of another. Let us also commit ourselves to live our lives in such a way that others will see in our witness, a foundation on which their lives can stand.

This weekend, we would like to share our latest video, "Music of the Mass | Latin Hymns", a solemn collection of ten (10) Latin chants and hymns that form part of the foundation of our Catholic musical heritage, and continue to play an important role in today’s Mass and liturgy.

Video can be watched by clicking here or on the picture below: