In today’s gospel Jesus questions the disciples about his identity. The disciples cite rumours that Jesus is a reincarnated prophet, namely John the Baptist, Elijah or Jeremiah. It is Simon Peter who recognises Jesus’ true identity: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responds by appointing Peter ‘the rock’ on which the church is to be built. As Eliakim was given keys of the house of David, so Peter is given keys to the kingdom of heaven! By the time the gospels are being written – some thirty to seventy years after Jesus’ death and resurrection – it is clear to Christians that Jesus had officially commissioned Peter to be the leader of the church, and Peter effectively took on this role for some thirty years. Some people like playing around with Jesus’ use of the word ‘rock’ to nominate Peter’s role in the infant church. Does it mean Jesus thought Peter was a bit thick in line with Marullus in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar: “You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things”? Clearly this is not Jesus’ reasoning, as he will have been quite aware that the Psalms praise God as my ‘rock’, ‘fortress’, ‘shield’ and ‘my place of safety’. Despite Peter’s weaknesses – denying Christ three times and running away from Jesus’ crucifixion – God gave him the grace to be dependable, committed and a support for others with their different gifts. Peter’s rule was not one of craving or hanging onto power, but the rule of one who eventually learnt from his master that to rule is to serve.