The time Jesus spent with his followers at Caesarea Philippi was pivotal in their development as apostles. Taking the step from “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” to “who do you say that I am?” caused the twelve to invest themselves in the answer. Saying who Jesus was for them made faith more than an idea — it became a commitment. Peter’s willingness to put himself out there made him fit to the “the rock.” The same is true for us — faith only comes alive when we move from what someone else (even the Bible and the catechism) says about Jesus to what do I say. Once we have claimed Jesus in our own words, then we share his love and forgiveness.
