"You Are Peter..."

Today's readings: 1 Peter 5:1-4; Psalm 23:1-6; Matthew 16:13-19

'You are peter, and upon this rock i will build my church'

This passage is very important to me as a Catholic. With Pope Benedict resigning, there is a lot of information coming out about this. So, I'm not going to spend time talking about the specifics of the office of the chair of Peter.

Instead I want to share how I feel about having the hierarchy of the Church.

we'll begin with the realization that I love that we have a hierarchy.  i think there was so much wisdom going into jesus establishing his church this way.

Although I don't think of the church as a business, the hierarchy can be compared to any business plan or community that is successful. They have someone at top, then people who work closely with that person, then there are other managers/supervisors, going all the way to the people who have the daily task of making the business come to live to the public.

THAT'S THE CATHOLIC CHURCH!

·        We have a head-Jesus Christ!

·        He has established a 'second hand' office to share His love and truth through-this is the office of the chair of Peter-we call the person “Pope”.

·        Then we have people who spend many hours talking, praying and working with the Pope on making sure that Christ's truth is what is being spoken-that would be the cardinals (especially ones at the Vatican)

·        Then we have people who have the difficult task of leading large areas of people, to help all citizens in that area to come to know Christ in a new way-those would be Bishops.

·        Next we have those that are responsible for leading a smaller group of people. They work with people in smaller communities and are able to focus more on how individuals can play a part in this life-these are the many priests.

·        Then there are people who are there to help the priests and bishops to do the task that they are given by Christ-these would be the Deacons.

·        And then last, but in no way least, are the laity. This is where it all happens. I think everyone 'above' on the hierarchy are present to help the laity to do so much work for The Lord. There are more of us there all the rest of the hierarchy together. We are an integral part of the kingdom of God. Vatican II speaks about the laity a lot. That council shares that the laity has a huge task to spread the love of God wherever they find themselves.  The Church cannot forget about the laity.

(This is the quickest and most basic way i have ever tried to explain each office and task-so i know that i missed a lot.  i just wanted to show the connection.)

But, if left to our own decisions and way to interpret things...it would not be long before we were no longer speaking one voice-the voice of Christ!

So, that is one reason I love the hierarchy...I trust that Christ will continue to be present to me through the beauty of the church.

Another reason is because of what they do. they serve us! how awesome is that? you see a priest (or bishop) and they are constantly serving and loving.  i think some of the way they are continually finding strength to do that, has partly to do with how much care and purpose Christ put in to having a leader that is an example of this and established a hierarchy where there would be others to help and support them.

Third-it seems that every time Jesus would talk about this hierarchy (by stating it) he always seemed to also talk about the Sacraments...and almost always included the Sacrament of Reconciliation (whatever you bind/loose of earth...). I love that Christ established such a wonderful way for me to return back to him! And it is through the established vocation of the priest that Jesus allows this (and the other Sacraments). We can see in Scripture (today’s Gospel specifically) that it began with establishing this task with Peter and then with the remainder of the Apostles. 

Fourth-the hierarchy is a sign of humility! Being human, sometimes we may think that a priest or bishop should do something different. They are human also, and so it seems like it would be easy for them to fall into that way of thinking. Well, seeing their example of humility and obedience helps me to live it in my life. They have to check their own insecurities so often. And, being obedient to people above them, they can't really become permanently planted anywhere. They have to be obedient to what their 'boss' wants. I know a lot of priests and even a number of bishops. I assume they fall sometimes in controlling their own disobedience or desire...but when I see them, they all seem to shine forth the beauty of obedience...how peace can come from trusting the leadership of someone else. In all honesty, when I struggle with that peace in my life, I try to meditate on the obedience of the priesthood...and the intensely more need for obedience of the Pope. His obedience to Christ AND to us is crazy. Pope's have to be so humble. It is never about him. It is amazing that we are able to have a spiritual leader-someone to give us an example of obedience, love, prayer, etc and that it all must begin with an intimate and true friendship with Christ. 

As I have shown you...I LOVE the hierarchy if the Church. I love that our Popes strive to share the love of God with everyone throughout the world. I love the obedience and humility the office of the chair of Peter has to have. I love that even the Apostles understood this hierarchy and allowed Peter to live the vocation Christ called him to. I love that we all have a vocation, and we are called to live it out in our specific place.

Today, as we celebrate the feast of the chair of Peter...I hope we all can continue to go to God in prayer and thank him for the work that Benedict XVI did and pray for those Cardinals that will be electing our next example and leader. I am saddened that Benedict XVI has to step down; I am so impressed with his continued humility; and am excited to see how our next Pope carries out the Love of God in our crazy world.