1 Peter 5:1-4, Psalm 23, Matthew 16:13-19
Today’s feast day is in honour of St. Peter who was chosen by Christ to be the first Vicar of His Church on earth.
Unlike most comissions, Peter’s appointment was not due to any merit or special skills on his part. In fact he was, at first, a rather unremarkable man in terms of of his own faith.
We know Peter as the one who was slow to understand many of the events in the life of Christ. Peter also denied he even knew Christ in order to save his own neck not once, but three times. In the Gospel reading for today however we receive a glimpse into Peter and see the man that Christ saw all along. Despite the flaws and weaknesses there was a sincere desire to believe; a desire to put his own self aside and put his faith in Jesus.
While today’s feast certainly honours Peter and all those who have ascended to the rank of Bishop as pastors of the Church, there is certainly a call to everyone who struggles to follow in the way of Christ. “Who do you say that I am?”, is the question that is posed to each one of us.
The answer to that question can be many different things depending on what our experience of God has been. Like the disciples we have our own desire for who we want God to be. Peter had his desires but in the end was recognized for his faithful insight, “You are the messiah, the Son of the living God”.
What does that mean? Well, I think it will take a lifetime of living out our faith to figure that out and maybe in the end we will only truly understand when our time is up and we meet our maker. But for now I am content to believe in Jesus as one who has revealed the depths of God’s love to us. Not only has God created us and sustained us in our every waking breath but he also chose to walk amoung us, becoming one like us in his Son.
The Church is certainly going through some hard times these days. There are many people who think the Church is an antiquated institution that has long outlived its usefulness. There are also many who, in defense of the Church, seem to be holding the human institution of the church in the place of God. Both sides are struggling with that question Jesus posed, “Who do you say that I am?” In midst of this debate the answer lies in the heart of every person who prays in faith and humbly responds, “You are Jesus the messiah, the Son of the Living God.”
Who do you say that Jesus is?
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