But who do you say that I am?

February 22, 2008

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle

Tend the flock of God in your midst, (overseeing) not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock. 1 Peter 5:2-3

“But who do you say that I am?” Matthew 16:15

Piety

Let us pray: Father, help us to confront our doubts and fears in order to overcome them with the grace and dignity exemplified by St. Peter to the rest of his flock. Lead us to the verdant pastures and still waters where we can rest. Make us contented in our lives shared with Jesus and not marked by false desires. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/022208.shtml

Among the saints and sinners that we encounter in life, Peter is in a class by himself. Sometimes in his saintliness, his actions, words and judgment rose so high above the rest of the people that he was blessed with many graces from God. Yet at other times, in his flawed humanity, Peter was right here with folks like you and I, trudging through life one day at a time.

Peter’s words to Christians of his day reach out across time and space to us today. It is advice that could characterize any parent, co-worker, supervisor, political leader, or family member.

We not only have his words, but also we have accounts of his actions in the Gospels. These show us that Peter is a true survivor. His accomplishments, aided by Jesus and the Holy Spirit refute the “reality show” mentality of America today. God is not out there to vote us off the island for the least little flaw. Yesterday we heard about Dives who was condemned for a lifetime of indifference to the poor who literally lived at his door and crawled along the ground at his feet. In fact, despite some pretty big flaws, Peter was never ousted at tribal council. No one put his fire out. No one sent him home or banished him across the chasm.

The Church which is led by a long line of people selected to sit in the chair of St. Peter that we honor today, teaches us it is not the survival of the fittest that matters, but survival of the entire family of humanity that rests upon our shoulders.

In today’s tribal council, Jesus poses a question to Peter and to us. “But who do you say that I am?” Jesus doesn’t care what the crowd thinks. He knows that he won’t win any popularity contest with the crowd who will come to ask for his condemnation and execution. Instead, Jesus approaches us one at a time, starting with Peter.

Action

Behind this door is eternal life. To win it, Jesus just needs your answer. “Who do you say that I am?”

Are you among the chosen sojourners with Peter in pursuit of the Christian ideal? If so, put your answer in the comment section of Your Daily Tripod. Come back and visit that page to see what others have written.

Maybe we do not have the benefit of a retreat at the top of a mountaintop with Moses and Elijah as we encountered at the outset of this second week of Lent. However, we have the benefit of all the people around us. Tend to them according to the words in the letter from St. Peter.