Chair of St. Peter

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter.  This feast commemorates Christ’s choosing Peter to sit in his place as the servant-authority of the whole Church. This feast brings to mind the mission of teacher and pastor conferred by Jesus on Peter, and continued in an unbroken line down to the present Pope. We celebrate the unity of the Church, founded upon the Apostle.

In today’s gospel we read, “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." (Matthew 16: 13 – 19)

In this exchange Peter answered each of Jesus’ questions correctly.  He answered without reservation or fear.  Peter was truly human and was aware of his short comings.  Immediately following this passage Jesus rebukes Peter for not responding as he should have.  As we celebrate this feast let us recall that we are all called to serve one another and live in the light of Christ.

Pat Schifini, OSU