Yesterday my brother and I watched an episode of Expedition Unknown. It was about the search for the true location of Bethsaida. During the program, they stopped at an archaeological site at Caesarea Philippi where there was a large grotto with a stone in the middle. The archaeologists found evidence that it was a pagan place to worship Pan from Greek mythology. They also found evidence that it was a sacred place visited by Christian pilgrims. The program pointed out that the Bible described a way to reconcile these 2 opposing views. In Matthew 16:13-19, Jesus took His Apostles to Caesarea Phillipi. It is that place that He declared Simon should now be called Peter, putting him as head of the Church, and stated that the gates of hell would not prevail against it. Jesus was making a point in that place. It was known as Hell’s gate and Jesus’ Church would replace it. Peter would be the first leader – the Pope. I had heard this explanation before and shared it with my brother. This morning, I listened to the Gospel reading of the day and it was in fact Matthew 16:13-19. The reflection described the exact same theories we had just heard the night before. It was amazing. I couldn’t wait to share it with my brother. We were both in awe of the ways God gets our attention.

I Found God today in many descriptions of how the Gates of Hell won’t prevail against His people.