Peter - the Unlikely Pope

21TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

[ Matthew 16: 13-20 ]

Peter – the unlikely Pope.

"On this Rock, I will build my Church." [Mt 16: 18]

I believe never in the wildest dream had Peter ever thought of Jesus appointing him to be the leader of the apostles and the Rock of His Church.

Let us take a quick look at Peter, his background and his temperament:

   (1) Peter was a lowly fisherman yet called to be a fisher of men [Mt 4: 19]. He was neither well-educated nor from a noble family.

   (2) Peter was impulsive. He had wanted to build three tents and stay on Mount Tabor after the heavenly Transfiguration experience [Mt 17: 1-8]. And it was the same Peter who, during the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, drew the sword and cutting off the right ear of the high priest’s servant [Jn 18: 10-11].

   (3) At times, Peter doubted the Lord. When Jesus called Peter out of the boat to walk to Him on the water, Peter heeded the call; but distracted by the wind and the sea, he lost faith for a moment, and he sank. [Mt 14: 22-33]

   (4) Peter was blunt and straightforward. Peter scolded Jesus when Jesus foretold His upcoming Passion and Death. He rebuked Jesus saying, “Heaven preserves you, Lord. This must not happen to you.” To which Jesus replied sharply, “Get behind me, Satan!” [Mt 16: 21-23]

   (5) Sinful like you and me, Peter fled after Jesus was arrested and he even denied Jesus three times.

   (6) Peter was not the youngest or the most energetic of the apostles. John was younger and he outran Peter on their race to Jesus’ tomb [Jn 20: 4].

   (7) Peter seemed to have not left ‘visible’ or ‘tangible’ or ‘glorious’ achievements for God. There was no Gospel named after Peter. And even out of the 21 epistles (letters) in the New Testament, only 2 brief epistles (1 and 2 Peter) were written by him. By worldly standard, Peter would be regarded as ‘underperformed’.

Despite Peter’s inadequacy, imperfection, unworthiness and brokenness, our Lord Jesus called, chose and commissioned him to govern, to teach and to sanctify the People of God (the Church). Yes, Peter’s faith may be imperfect, yet his personal encounter, his profound experience and his organic relationship with the person of Jesus continued to change him and transform him. His is the voice that continues to echo through the ages proclaiming that, “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God!” To Peter and his successors (popes) after him, Jesus has given the keys (authority) of the kingdom of heaven: whatever they bind on earth is bound in heaven; whatever they loose on earth is loosed in heaven.

Peter’s great love for Jesus made it possible for him to do everything that Jesus asked. The Lord asks the same of each and every one of us. Like Peter, we are to continue Christ’s mission here on earth. We can be sure that Jesus will empower us, enlighten us, encourage us, embolden us, enliven us and equip us so that we can love Him and serve Him all the days of our lives. Yes, Jesus can work in us and work through us if we allow Him to.

Peter requested to be crucified upside down,
as he felt unworthy to die in the same manner as Christ.

Let our fervent prayer be:

   “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, work in us and work through us!”

Let us also pray that God’s justice, peace, truth and love may prevail in Ukraine, Sri Lanka and Nicaragua.

   [Note: This Gospel reflection was first published on Porta Fidei, Gospel Reflection, 23 Aug 2020.]