Daily Retreat 02/22/06

2006 Feb 22 Wed: Chair of Peter, ap F

1 Pt 5: 1-4/ Ps 22(23): 1-3a. 4. 5. 6/ Mt 16: 13-19

From today’s readings: " Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock.... The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.... I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. "

A Chair?

The Feast of the Chair of Peter is celebrated today - certainly a bizarre enough sounding title for a celebration! But the object of celebration, of course, is not a piece of furniture, but rather, an office - and not the type of office that would serve as room for a chair and a desk, but rather, an office of service, a position of leadership.

Although not the first Apostle called by Christ, Simon Peter is nonetheless always listed first in the gospel lists of the apostles’ names, and he clearly served as chairman of the original apostolic college - not necessarily because of his own natural charisma as a leader, but because, as Matthew’s gospel records, Peter was commissioned by Jesus Himself (also note Luke 22:31-32 and John 21:15-19).

This Petrine office of Church leadership is better known as the papacy. In fact, from Peter to Pope Benedict XVI, the historically documented succession of 265 popes personally links each of the Peter’s successors in that line of service and leadership in Christ’s Church. And that’s something that is worthy of a feastday celebration!