There are two things in this passage that stand out to me.
The first – You will know in your heart..., in your gut..., that when you meet Jesus,
you Will know who He is.
The second – Jesus gives his power to forgive - to Peter – to the Apostles – and down the line of succession to our Priests; to be that part of the body of Christ. Who hears, comforts, and releases the weight of sin from those who are truly seeking forgiveness. To give to His children new life so they may find their way home.
It goes right along with what Jesus said earlier when He told / showed us
how to pray in Matthew 6:7-15
On a personal note.
When I first became a Catholic and went to my first confession, I didn't give a genuine confession. What I mean by that is I went to the very fringes and went light by just skimming the surface. I thought there is NO WAY I'm going to tell this guy the things I have stuffed down deep inside. That stuff is buried under the dead dog and anything else I could grab and throw on top of it.
I was lying to myself by saying I could just forget about it and everything would be fine.
Fast forward 5 or 6 years later.
I didn't do "churchy things" but, I had promised a man I respected and loved as my own father that I would go on a mens retreat with him. At some point I went to confession and let it out. Because I made that simple decision and asked for forgiveness, Jesus was able to finally help me.
I gave it and He took it. The pain, anger and thorny weight I held deep down inside was gone. I left a changed man. I was happier and not the quick to temper man I was for the majority of my life. Together, we were able to pull me out of the hidden storm that was raging inside. I am a better man, son, brother, husband, and father because of Jesus's love and strength.
Today Message – Matthew 16:13-19
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/022218.cfm
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter said in reply,
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."