Homily for Feast of the Chair of St. Peter 2022

Peter: strengthen your brethren

1 Peter 5:1-4; Ps 22; Matthew 16:13-19

Introduction

A question I often get asked by Catholics is, “Do you like Pope Francis?”  This question makes me mad because it seems out of place.  It would be like asking do I like my father or mother?  I want to reply that it is a stupid question, but I usually hide my annoyance and instead explain who the Pope is for Catholics.

As well intentioned as this question often is, it is rather borne out of a culture of celebrity where we like this pop star or that football player.  It is borne out of a culture of partisan politics, where we like this leader and not the other one.

But when it comes to the Pope, at least for Catholics, his job is not to be liked or not liked.  As we heard in the gospel, his job is to be the rock upon which Jesus is building his Church.  His job is to strengthen his brothers and sisters.  And he does this, whether he is liked or not liked.

Scripture and Tradition

That is why today we celebrate a special feast called, the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter.  It should be obvious that we are not celebrating a piece of furniture, but rather the office it represents.  When I was growing up, there was a chair at home, that was dad’s chair.  And if we knew what was good for us, we children never ever placed our little bottoms on it.  That chair was a sign of his authority as our father.  Every bishop in the world has also a special chair in the cathedral, called a cathedra, which only sits upon.  It is a symbol of his authority over that local church.  As the successor of St. Peter, the Pope also has a chair, a cathedra, which represents the authority of the Pope over the Church.

Where do Peter and his successor get this authority? We have just heard Jesus in today’s gospel, telling Peter: “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” (Mt. 16:18).  Peter and his successors have since then been the rock upon which the Catholic Church has been built, with Peter and his successors being the source of unity for the Church.  I, from Uganda and you from here can both call ourselves Catholics because Peter, the Holy Father is our rock.  Jesus further affirmed Peter’s leadership by saying: “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” (Mt. 16:19).

Was Peter the smartest of them all?  Probably not.  Was he the most pious of them all?  Probably not.  In fact, on the night before the Lord died, Jesus predicted that Peter would deny him and yet still gave him authority over the Church.  The Lord said: “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers” (Lk. 22:31-32).  That is why even today the Pope continues to strengthen his brother bishops and the whole church, when they are attacked or when they go astray.  In fact, in today’s first reading Peter does exactly that, advising his fellow presbyters.

A third place the Lord gives authority to Peter in the gospels is after his resurrection.  Three times he asks Peter, “Do you love me”?  And three times Peter responds that he loves the Lord, in a way cancelling the three times he denied the Lord.  And Jesus tells him: “Feed my lambs. . .. Tend my sheep. . .. Feed my sheep” (Jn. 21:15-17).

We see Peter doing exactly that in the New Testament, playing the role of leader of the apostles.  He presides over the election of Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot.  He speaks on behalf of all before the Sanhedrin and on the day of Pentecost.  That is why Herod Agrippa wants to kill him, and by removing the head of the Church, he would deal a mortal blow to the Early Church.

Christian Application and Conclusion

It is a pity that some Catholics today, even bishops and priests, reject the authority of Peter in the Holy Father.  There were those who did not like Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI. And there are now those who don’t like Pope Francis.  But again, Popes are not there to be liked, but to lead and guide us to heaven.  Those who reject their authority are like Protestants, finding their own personal authority to guide them.  They fail to follow the example of St. Paul, who was called specially by Jesus to be an apostle, but who still submitted himself, even his differences, to Peter, head of the Church.

May today’s feast of the Chair of St. Peter, be a reminder that Jesus did not leave us orphans.  He left us Peter to captain the ship that takes us to heaven.  How many Peters have guided you in your life?  In my twenty-four years of the priesthood, I have counted on the guidance of three great men who have occupied of the Chair of Peter: John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and now Francis. In their different styles and personality, with different emphasis and focus, they have continued to captain the boat called the Church and preach the same gospel of Jesus Christ.  The only boat that I am willing to sail on through the rough waters of the sea that leads to heaven, is the one, which the successor of Peter captains.  The only teaching of Jesus that I will listen to, is that which comes, from the man who occupies the Chair of St. Peter.