You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
end quote
Saul of Tarsus was born into, and raised in a multi cultural city filled with a variety of ethnic groups, and religions reflecting the desire of the human person to relate to our creator. Saul understood that his Hebrew identity represented another minority, among many growing up in Tarsus.
The well esteemed teacher of The Laws of Moses, Gamaliel tutored Saul, leading Saul to become a rising star in The Sanhedrin.
The Nazarenes were perceived by Israel's ruling religious elite, to represent a threat to the power exercised by The Sanhedrin over the Jews of Galilee, and Judea encouraging Saul to seek out, and detain those guilty of following the teachings of one Jesus of Nazareth.
That fateful journey on the road to Damascus introduced Saul to Jesus with the immediate awareness that all that he had learned was rendered immaterial, when facing Jesus' invitation to stop persecuting Him.
And he fell to the earth and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me ~ Acts 9:4
Saul, better known to us as Simon Peter, represents you, and me in our desire to better understand our relationship with Our Father.
The community of the faithful is you, and me living within families, neighbourhoods, villages, towns, and cities striving to make sense of the challenges that our life sends to us daily.
Simon Peter learned day, after day that he was being led through his life by the Divine presence speaking to him with the love of a father for His most beloved child.
Peter, from the Latin Petros is also known as the rock for his solid faith in Our Saviour's presence in our life guiding us through the ebbs, and flows of our journey of self discovery.
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. ~ 1 Peter 1:8
Please note Saul of Tarsus became the apostle Paul, not Simon Peter. No excuses on my part, merely a reminder that we are all imperfect, needing the guidance of Our Father to better understand that He will lead us out of errors, into a life reflecting His presence.
Correcting ones errors acknowledges our willingness to learn, that life teaches us its lessons with ego busting determination.