Cardinal Point

We’re all familiar with cardinal numbers, cardinal points on the compass, cardinal virtues, and Cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church. None of these have anything to do with either the bird or the color red.

Cardinal comes from the Latin word for hinge, like a door or a gate turns on.

This week’s Gospel describes a cardinal point (cardinalis punctum) in the ministry of Jesus. From Peter’s limited perspective, in one brief moment the whole thing takes a turn. And not for the better.