Gates of the Netherworld

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

In our Gospel today Jesus says an often misinterpreted and misunderstood line: “upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.”

In the face of such seemingly steep opposition, pushback and darkness in our modern world, I believe this line of Jesus, correctly understood, provides us the key to understanding how and with what attitude we as Christians are called to engage the world today!