Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, Apostle

Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, Apostle
Today's readings: February 22, 2010
First Reading: 1 Pt 5:1-4;
Responsonrial Psalm: 23:1-3a, 4, 5, 6

Gospel: Mt 16:13-19;

And here's an audio file; and a video of a priest offering reflections.

First Reading:  1 Pt 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.

Responsorial 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.

Gospel: Mt 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:
Way back in the days when Christ walked the Earth, He conferred to Peter the title as the

first leader of the church, yes - that means Peter was the first Pope. And since those days,

the Pope of the Catholic church has been selected amongst the followers - in the early

days, it was the Presbyters, which means the elders. Why did Jesus pick Peter, whom he

called Cephas, which means rock? I mean - didn't Peter deny Jesus three times on the

night before the cruxifiction? Perhaps it seems an odd choice, but think about it. After

Christ is risen from the dead, Peter becomes quite the example for his followers, as 

described in the Acts of the Apostles. He is courageous, he is slow to anger, he is

constantly in prayer and he is blessed with many great acts, that were done by God

using Peter as His instrument. And also - wouldn't Peter be especially generous and

merciful, having denied Christ? Of course he would.

 What is also fascinating - is what happens immediately after this event, when Peter

is named head of the church. I won't spoil the story... read about it in the days to come.