Daily Retreat 06/02/06
2006 Jun 2 Fri: Easter Weekday/ Marcellinus and Peter, mts
Acts 25: 13b-21/ Ps 102(103): 1-2. 11-12. 19-20ab/ Jn 21: 15-19
From todays readings: "When Paul appealed that he be held in custody for the Emperors decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.... The Lord has established His throne in Heaven.... Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You!"
Shepherd of the Lords Flock
Jesus Himself not only prayed for unity in His Church (cf. yesterdays Gospel and reflection), He also took concrete measures to achieve it! Throughout the New Testament, there are numerous verses that record the leadership that Peter exercised in the early Church, and the Gospels attest that Jesus Himself entrusted Simon Peter with this office of shepherding all of the Lords flock.
The Gospels also record that Peter was not perfect. But even though he failed more than once and even denied the Lord three times, Jesus forgave him and led Peter to perfect contrition and reconciliation in his triple affirmation of whole-hearted love, as recorded at the end of the Gospel of St. John. Later, as the Lord prophesied, St. Peter sealed his love in blood by dying as a martyr in Rome for Christ.
After St. Peters martyrdom in Rome, history records that St. Linus was called upon to fill his shoes in exercising the ministry of visibly shepherding the Lords flock. After he died, another took his place, and this unbroken apostolic succession continues today in the person of Pope Benedict XVI, who is the 264th historical successor to St. Peter, for the Lord still prays and provides for the guidance of visible headship in His Church!
posted by FrPitstick | 5/31/2006
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