HE SUPPLIES THE GRACE

Memorial of St. Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

Mt 16:13-10

The word “Peter” is not originally a name of a person. The word “Peter” is the Latin translation of the Greek word “Cephas” which means “rock”. “Peter” is originally a word for a thing not a person. Remember that the apostle whom we commonly refer to today as “Peter” is actually Simon, the brother of Andrew, another apostle, who were both fishermen from Galilee.

When Jesus called Simon “Peter”, Jesus gave him more than a new name. Jesus actually instructed Simon about his new role and duty. Simon was to be the “rock” on which Jesus was to build His Church over which even the jaws of hell cannot prevail. The word “Peter” is therefore more of a title of an office than a personal name for Simon. Anyone who succeeds Simon in his role and duty for the Church of Christ is a “Peter”.

Today we remember in the liturgy the blessed memory of one who became a “Peter”, too. Pope Leo was not only given the honorific title of “The Great” but was also raised by the Church to the honorable status of a saint. He proved himself to be a “rock” during the time when the Church was threatened to be divided and crushed. The Church of Pope Leo’s time was threatened to be divided by the wrong teachings of the Pelegians, Arians, and the Manichaeans. At the same time, it was during his pontificate as well that the barbarians, led by Attila the Hun, threatened the sovereignty of the Church.

As “Peter”, Pope Leo defended the divinity of Christ and elaborated on the mystery of the two natures in the one person of Jesus. In 451, the Council of Chalcedon adopted his explanation on the divinity and humanity simultaneously and fully present in Jesus as the official teaching of the Church regarding the mystery of the two natures in the one person of Christ. We all grew up always knowing about and professing faith in this mystery. We owe our understanding of this mystery from Pope Leo the Great.

Unshakeable as a rock on which the Church is founded, Pope Leo the Great likewise defended Rome from the attack of Attila the Hun. He saved Rome from the onrush of the barbarians; thereby, protecting and preserving the sovereignty of the Church.

His name was Leo but he was very much “Peter” too. He was “rock”. And like Simon the first “Peter”, the strength of this “rock” came from God, not from man. For when God chooses, God supplies the grace as well.