In the Igbo, Nigerian culture, begetting a male child is of utmost importance to the father of
the house. This is because male children inherit the family-name and are successors of the
family tradition and legacy. Although this perception of a male child often has a negative
consequence on the appreciation of a female child in such contexts, it does have a cultural
reason and explanation behind it. Igbo African people believe in having an heir, someone who
continues the family line. Without such a descendent, it is believed that the head of the family
leaves no legacy behind for the community. The heir of the family takes up after the head of
the family and is entrusted with the family legacy, the customs, the traditions, and the family
inheritance. But above all, he is being looked upon as the one who ensures that the family
inheritance and legacy endures. Consequently, it is a disappointment to the father of the
family when he begets no heir. Shortly put, one who begets a male child or a descendent who
understands the family legacy and carries it on, is believed to live and die as a fulfilled
person. Why? Because of the assurance that his lineage will go on.
We find a similarity in the Igbo African experience of having a successor with the events that
happened in today’s gospel (Mt 16:13-23), where Jesus finds an heir in Peter. Jesus and his
disciples had an outing in the region of Caesarea Philippi. In the course of their togetherness
and communion, he asked his disciples a seemingly surprising question: “Who do people say
that the Son of Man is?” It was difficult for them to give a precise answer. Hence, Jesus went
ahead to see if his disciples have understood his identity and his message. He asked the
disciples who they think he is. Peter spoke up and testified to his faith in Jesus as the Son of
God. He said: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Peter’s response delighted
Jesus so greatly that he went ahead to confer the authority of the keys to his Church to Peter.
In other words, the power of authoritatively teaching the word of God, and of deciphering
between the right and wrong teaching and conduct. Peter and Jesus offer us insights on the
essence of having a successor and the demands for both the successor and the predecessor.
Peter’s Confession of Faith as a Sign of Faithful Discipleship
Upon Peter’s confession of Jesus’ divinity, Jesus said to him: “You are Peter, and upon this
rock I will build my church and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” The
word Church, (Greek ekklēsia) occurs in the gospels only three times; once in this periscope
and twice in Mathew’s gospel (18:17). Hence, biblical scholars suggest that there are
possibilities for an Aramaic original of the word. Jesus’ reference to the ekklēsia,
nevertheless, is to be understood with his view of the kingdom of God. This can be found
within Jesus’ own tradition and identity in which Church means the community of faith that
he will gather, which includes people who look up to God as Father. Like a building, Peter’s
faith will be its solid foundation. The function of Peter consists in his bearing witness to Jesus
as the Messiah, the Son of the living God. He has the keys to the kingdom of heaven as one
who bears witness and has followed the master closely. The image of the keys is probably
drawn from Isaiah 22,15–25 where Eliakim, the successor of Shebna as master of the palace,
is given the key of the House of David, which he authoritatively opens and shuts (Is, 22:22).
The Keys of Faith That We Have Received
In our day-to-day life also, we know the significance of a key: to one’s house, office, one’s
heart, or safe. Apart from one’s family members, keys are given to people whom we entrust
the care of our valuables because we believe that they will care and use them in the best way.
Hence, both the one possessing the keys and the one handed over the keys as his successor
have responsibilities. We, all as disciples of Jesus and heirs of the kingdom, are also entrusted
to each other: as a spouse, as a father or mother, as a child, as a friend as a coworker and even
as members of God’s household and creation. We are given the power of strengthening,
binding, and loosing in the duties entrusted to us by virtue of our discipleship. I pray that we
may learn from Jesus and Peter: first to know the duties entrusted to us and that we may
witness to God’s kingdom, proclaimed to us in the gospel by Jesus Christ. Peace unto us!
I loved this reflection. As in the Igbo tradition Jesus wanted an heir that would pass His revealed family values and new tradition that fulfilled the law. He found it in onee by declaring whomJesus was, assured Our Lord that desires of His Father, taught by the Son would pass generation by generation into the distant future. Hence Apostolic Succession is more than guardianship of Truth, it is a family culture preserved by each subsequent generation. This shines a new familial light that I had only superficially understood.
Thank you Sister Okwara for such a wonderful piece. God bless you and those members of your order.
Dear Jerry,
I appreciate your response to my reflection. You did well to highlight the importance of Apostolic Succession as a concrete way of preserving the tradition and Catholic heritage and I am reflecting further on how this could be enriched and rediscovered in the context of our Church of today.
Thank you so much.
Rosemary.