Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle

“St Peter Enthroned with Saints”
by Cima da Conegliano, 1495-97

 
Readings for the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter [1]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
 
Readings and Commentary:[3]
 
Reading I: 1 Peter 5:1-4
 
Beloved:
I exhort the presbyters among you,
as a fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christ
and one who has a share in the glory to be revealed.
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.
And when the chief Shepherd is revealed,
you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
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Commentary on 1 Pt 5:1-4
 
St. Peter, first among the apostles, concludes his first letter writing specifically to those who have been appointed to lead local Christian communities. These individuals would have been appointed by the apostles as they traveled on their missionary journeys.  He provides a view of leadership consistent with Christ’s teaching and contradicting the Jewish leadership style which was authoritarian. He exhorts the presbyters or elders to offer their service as a gift to God and provide leadership through their example of humility.
 
"St. Gregory the Great teaches that the pastor of souls 'should always give the lead, to show by his example the way to life, so that his flock (who follow the voice and the actions of the pastor) are guided more by example than by words; his position obliges him to speak of elevated things, and also to manifest them personally; the word more easily gains access to the hearts of hearers when it carries with it the endorsement of the life of him who when giving instructions assists in their fulfillment by his own example' ("Regulae Pastoralis Liber", 2, 3)."[4]
 
CCC: 1 Pt 5:3 893, 1551; 1 Pt 5:4 754
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23:1-3a, 4, 5, 6
 
R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
 
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
 
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
 
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
 
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
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Commentary on Ps 23:1-3a, 4, 5, 6
 
Psalm 23 is one of the most familiar songs in the entire psalter. “God's loving care for the psalmist is portrayed under the figures of a shepherd for the flock (Psalm 23:1-4) and a host's generosity toward a guest (Psalm 23:5-6). The imagery of both sections is drawn from traditions of the exodus (Isaiah 40:11; 49:10; Jeremiah 31:10).” [5]  While the theme of shepherd is mentioned in the first strophe, the psalm really speaks to the peace given to those who follow the Lord and place their trust in Him, even into the “dark valley.”
 
The reference in the third strophe above: “'You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes' occurs in an exodus context in Psalm 78:19. As my enemies watch: my enemies see that I am God's friend and guest. Oil: a perfumed ointment made from olive oil, used especially at banquets (Psalm 104:15; Matthew 26:7; Luke 7:37, 46; John 12:2).” [6]
 
CCC: Ps 23:5 1293
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Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19
 
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.”
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Commentary on Mt 16:13-19
 
St. Matthew’s story of how Jesus asked about what people were saying about him has a profound impact on the Church. Here, when challenged by Jesus with the question, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The second title is not present in St. Mark’s version of this encounter. The title adds an understanding that Jesus is not just the Messiah, but also the Son of God. Given this response, Jesus confers upon Simon a new name “Kephas” which comes from the root Aramaic word kepa or “rock.” When translated into Greek it is petros, and from there to Peter. The name, however, becomes the foundation for the Church. As a consequence of this exchange, Peter is given Christ’s authority, an authority that is passed down through papal succession to the Pope who sits on the Chair of Peter today.
 
CCC: Mt 16-18 1969; Mt 16:16-23 440; Mt 16:16 424, 442; Mt 16:17 153, 442; Mt 16:18-19 881; Mt 16:18 424, 442, 552, 586, 869; Mt 16:19 553, 1444
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Reflection:
 
It is ironic that the rationale for our celebration surrounding the story of the Lord giving the “keys of the Kingdom of God” to St. Peter should come from St. Paul.  It was St. Paul who so eloquently proclaimed the understanding that we are all adopted children of God, and as such, we are all heirs to the legacy the Lord left on earth as well as a place in the Heavenly Kingdom.  We are given formal access to that treasured status as Jesus passes his authority to St. Peter.  The keys to the treasury are given, a treasury that is at once the deposit of faith and the responsibility that goes with it.
 
It is a great blessing for us, this offer of adoption through the authority passed on to St. Peter.  It gives us access to the wisdom of God and the peace that comes with knowing God’s salvation is available to us.  The reading from the First Letter of St. Peter points out that, with this adoption, this special status of belonging to God’s family, there are also responsibilities. 
 
Some might say that St. Peter is addressing only his fellow presbyters, the priests and bishops of the early Church, in this letter.  It might be said that we need listen only to those whose authority flows more directly from the Chair of Peter, as the pontificate is now called.  But those who think so would be wrong.  We are all given some share in the responsibility for leading God’s flock.  We are all witnesses to the world of the love of Christ that is most eloquently proclaimed from St. Peter’s Chair.  It is our inheritance to spend in the world.  The keys that bind us in the form of the magisterium are also the keys that free us, allowing us to be free from the secular chains of envy and greed.
 
In a sense it is like the Mark Twain story of the “Prince and the Pauper,” the two identical youths who switched places, and in their unfamiliar roles the boy who was now a prince was thought to have become mentally ill and the prince now placed in the role of beggar was likewise thought to have become deranged.  They were not acting according to their birthrights.  We are not merely sheep to follow blindly anyone who calls themselves shepherds.  We are part of the flock of the one true shepherd and we follow only his voice.  And those who see us and know us understand that we follow that voice. It is like a brand set upon us, ashes on our foreheads that should not be washed off.
 
Today we rejoice in our adoption as children of God.  We thank the One Shepherd for calling us and placing wise shepherds to carry on the great work that he began.   We pray this day for the strength and courage to be seen as members of that flock and to be worthy to carry his brand in our hearts.
 
Pax
 
On this date in other years: Monday of the First Week of Lent

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[1] The picture is “St Peter Enthroned with Saints” by Cima da Conegliano, 1495-97.

[2] S.S. Commemoratio

[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.

[4] The Navarre Bible: “Major Prophets”, Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2002, p. 346.

[5] See NAB footnote on Psalm 23.

[6] Ibid.