1 Pt 5:1-4; Mt
16:13-19
Today the Church
celebrates the feast of the Chair of Peter the apostle. The chair has become a
symbol of a person’s authority or office. In Church’s tradition, Peter is
recognized as the first leader of the Christian community after Christ. His
name comes first in the list of the twelve apostles (Mt 10:2; Mk 3:16), and it
was to him that the Lord Jesus entrusted the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Mt
16:16) and the responsibility of nourishing the flock (Jn 21:15). Today, the
chair of Peter refers to the seat of the power of the pope as leader of the
Roman Catholic Church.
The first reading
today is carefully chosen to remind us of the primary meaning and intention of
authority and office in the Church. All authority in the Church is from God and
it is given for the service of the Christian community. The person who receives
an office in the Church is a servant, not a lord. He or she has to use
authority to serve the good of others. All leaders in the Church, both the
clergy and the lay, must take seriously the admonition from the first book of
Peter: “Shepherd the flock which God has entrusted to you, guarding it not out
of obligation but willingly for God’s sake; not as one looking for a reward but
with a generous heart; do not lord it over those in your care, rather be an
example to your flock” (5:2-3). In serving, Church leaders are to bring the
image and presence of Christ, the Good Shepherd, to all (Ps 23:1-6).
An article in a
poster attracted my attention. The author, Anna Sandberg, explains the
difference between a job and a ministry in the Church:
Some people have a job in the Church.
Others invite themselves in a ministry.
What’s the difference?
If you are doing it just because no one else
will, it’s a job.
If you are doing it to serve the Lord, it’s
a ministry.
If you quit because somebody criticized you,
it’s a job.
If you keep on serving, it’s a ministry.
If you’ll do it as long as it does not
interfere with your other activities, it’s a job.
If you are committed to staying with it even
if it means letting go of other things, it’s a ministry.
It’s hard to get excited about a job.
It’s almost impossible not to be excited
about a ministry.
An average Church is filled with people
doing jobs.
A great and growing Church is filled with
people involved in ministry.
Where do we fit in?
What about us?
