Reflection for Friday, February 22, 2013

Daily Readings:
1 Pt 5:1-4; Ps 23:1-3a, 4, 5, 6; Mt 16:13-19

Reflection:  As we celebrate the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter today, our readings provide us with justification for the pope within scripture.  It is common for those outside of the Catholic faith to be confused about the role of the pope or why he is present within the Catholic Church.  We see within our Gospel reading today our first pope, Saint Peter.  We hear Jesus give Saint Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and we hear Christ call Saint Peter the rock upon which He will build His church.  As stated by Pope Benedict XVI, “The Chair represents (the pope’s) mission as guide of the entire People of God.  Celebrating the ‘Chair’ of Peter means attributing a strong spiritual significance to it and recognizing it as a privileged sign of the love of God.”  We all need a guide in our faith.  We see this need very present in our society today as individuals choose to interpret scripture and apply it to their life on their own terms.  Without our shepherd we are nothing more than lost and wandering sheep.  The pope is our shepherd and he has been giving to us by Christ to guide us home.

Reflection for younger saints:  Today we celebrate the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter.  This is a special day that we celebrate the role of the Pope as the leader of our Catholic Church.  The pope has a very special and very important job to lead all those who believe in God and want to be with Him in heaven one day.

Big Picture:  While this is not a typical “big picture” take away, I found it to be a striking and humbling quote to summarize the experience of a pope:  “Perhaps it would be a good thing if every Christian, certainly if every priest, could dream once in his life that he were pope, and wake from that nightmare in a sweat of agony.”  Ronald Knox

Discussion Starters:
     Younger saints:  What is the job of the pope?  (The pope is the spiritual lead and the head of the Catholic Church).  Who was the first pope?  (Saint Peter).  Who is our current pope?  (Pope Benedict XVI).
     Older saints:  What is the job of the pope?  (The pope is the spiritual lead and the head of the Catholic Church).  Who was the first pope?  (Saint Peter).  Who is our current pope?  (Pope Benedict XVI).  Reflect on what you imagine it would be like to be the pope. 

Fun Fact:  The one true Church established by Jesus is the Catholic Church.  We know this because Jesus chose the 12 apostles to teach, sanctify, and rule His Church and the Bishops of the Catholic Church are the successors to the apostles.  Jesus also chose Peter as the head of His Church, and the Popes are the successors to Peter.

Daily Notes: