Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle

Title

The Authority of Identity with Christ

Outline

The Chair of St Peter is significant to me

We came into the Catholic Church in the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter and in the Ordinariate I was ordained. Previous to that I had been led into relationship with St Peter as my academic focus, which was never merely academic, moved from James to Peter to Jude. These were not my plans, but rather a saying yes to what God offered. And, of course, I was named for that Peter, with absolutely no idea where it would lead me, although my nature is to be “all-in-with-both feet” like his. Tomorrow in the Ordinariate community we will suspend Pre-Lent and return to white to celebrate this as a solemnity.

Peter show us that hierarchy leads by example

He does not assert his hierarchical position, but identifies with his “fellow presbyters” and draws them into his identification with “the sufferings of Christ” and his rootedness in Christ’s present to-be-revealed glory. And then he talks about leadership, not from rank, but from willingly doing the hard job of shepherding without turning it into income. Leading by example rather than command, not expecting reward from the sheep, but from “the chief Shepherd,” the chief reward being a warm “well done.” That is often not how leadership is done nowadays.

The Gospel shows this leadership developing

Peter had already be chosen as one of the Twelve, but now Jesus asks the group, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter is “all-in:” “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Total commitment, even if it would need later refinement. Jesus first lets him know that this commitment to and identification with Jesus is a revelation from God. The purpose of this is to make Peter the rock (Jesus likes puns) upon which Jesus would build his counter-community which death and Satan will not overcome. Peter is the majordomo with the “key of David,” the “keys to the kingdom.” And he will exercise the authority of the king. Notice that the identification comes first, his position as gift comes second, and his authority, which he eventually lives out on a cross, comes third. We only once see him using anything like command authority, i.e. the case of Ananias and Sapphira; usually it is the authority of witness or that of “follow me.”

So Peter should guide us

The world does not know who they are so they cover their anxiety by giving exercising power that makes them look powerful.

Our way should be the way of Peter: knowing who were are in Christ, total identification with Christ, receiving our authority as a gift, not a right, and calling others to follow us into the “battle” rather than commanding them to go.

The Chair of St Peter shows us how the Kingdom is run. It is not unstructured, but it is led by leaders sold out to Christ who are “crucified with Christ” and longing for Christ’s coming who are guiding other, the flock, to follow Jesus and going before them as examples of Jesus. When I grow up, I want to be one such presbyter too.