Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, Apostle

Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock. – 1 Peter 5:3

       I was in a reunion with my high school friends. It had been years since we last met!

       Over dinner, we exchanged stories to catch up with each other’s lives. I shared to them that by the grace of God, I had  finally finished medical school, passed the board exams, and started my medical practice.

         As we were chatting, I generously poured ice-cold soda into glasses for myself and for the rest of the group. Then my classmate said, “Wait, Doc Didoy, isn’t that bad for our health?” Oops.

       That day, I learned and relearned valuable lessons that I took to heart.

         I can only preach what I practice.

        There’s a world of difference between what you know and what you do.

        Action speaks louder than words. So be examples to your flock. Didoy Lubaton (wholenessinyou@gmail.com)

Reflection:“The authority by which the Christian leader leads is not power but love, not force but example, not coercion but reasoned persuasion.” (John Stott)

Jesus, help us to live out what we profess and believe.

St. Margaret of Cortona, pray for us.

The Pope leads and unifies the Catholic Church. As pontiff, his responsibilities are greater than the perks that people associate with his position. Let us pray daily for the Pope as he discerns God’s will for the Church and the world.

1 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. 2 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. 3 Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

R: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 In verdant pastures he gives me repose. Beside restful waters he leads me; 3 he refreshes my soul. (R) 4 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) 5 You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (R) 6 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)

In today’s Gospel, Peter was anointed as the first pope. This role was passed on as a tradition and practice of the Church. The papacy is important in uniting the faithful. Any group or society will splinter without the good governance of a leader.

You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church; the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

13 When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied,“Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 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. 18 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. 19 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.”

think: Remember to pray for the Pope, the servant of the servants of God.

Read the Bible in one year 1 Thessalonians 1-5

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

Today, we remember to pray for the papacy that is said to have traditionally started with the installation of Peter as the “rock” over which Jesus built His Church. This office is symbolically alluded to by the relic of a wooden chair said to have been used by the Apostle. This chair is now encased in bronze, and is lifted up as a backdrop of the papal altar of the Vatican Basilica.

       The altar of the chair is overshadowed by the more eye-catching stained glass window depicting the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, a popular symbol of the Holy Spirit. This brings us back to the story of Noah, who knew that God was faithful to His promise of salvation, when the dove finally brought him a fresh olive branch indicating that the flood waters had began to subside.

      From Peter and throughout the Church’s history, the papacy has been occupied by men of various characters and weaknesses. Peter himself had frail faith and conviction that needed to be affirmed by God until his last days. He was quick to promise and also quick to forget his resolutions. There were also individuals who were propelled to the position by powerful, materialistic, ambitious and warring Italian families. We can likewise count occasions when those elected popes were old men of fragile health, thought to be good as “transition figures.”

       Jesus said to Peter: “...Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Heavenly Father. And I say to you... upon this rock, I will build my church.” Not Peter, but Jesus will be the one to build the Church. The Church remains to be Jesus’ Church. The Spirit of Jesus over the empty chair, and not a temporary human occupant, gives the chair its true worth and stability. Hence, today, we pray for the frail occupant of the chair of Peter. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

---------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS ----------

Do you pray for Pope Francis regularly? What do you particularly pray for him? What are your personal hopes regarding his papacy? Who are the popes you have had a knowledge of in your lifetime? What do you treasure about each of them?

Dear Jesus, we pray for our pope, that he may truly be the rock upon which You build Your Church. Amen.