Today we recall the Feast of the Chair of St Peter. In our first reading today, St Peter emphasizes the need for the people of God to tend to the flock, the universal Church. This exhortation by St Peter gives us beautiful imagery for our reflection. We can consider Jesus willingly and eagerly giving his time and self to others as he encountered the crowds or individuals. Jesus probably carried out the mission of God with joy and magnanimity. Virtues that we can imitate and virtues that our world desperately needs. This is how we can be examples to the flock.
Joy of the Gospel
When thinking about the Chair of St Peter, one thing comes to mind. Pope Francis’ Joy of the Gospel exhortation. There are a few parts of the writing that focus on parish life and evangelizing. It is a wonderful piece to read! He writes, “the parish is the presence of the Church in a given territory, an environment for hearing God’s word, for growth in the Christian life, for dialogue, proclamation, charitable outreach, worship and celebration … It is a community of communities, a sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink in the midst of their journey, and a center of constant missionary outreach.” (Chapter I, II, 28)
Service
I consider and invite you to do as well. How does our involvement in the parish support the Chair of St Peter? How do our ministries function and retain the virtues that Peter describes of Jesus and the early Church presbyters. Our service. Our zeal, our generous outreach. And, true investment in the physical poor, or poor in spirit, marginalized, or abused strengthens our communities and unites us to Jesus. Ultimately, we don’t know exactly how our service and zeal to love radically build up the Chair of St Peter. But, I like how Pope Francis explains, “the fraternal life and fervor of the community can awaken in the young a desire to consecrate themselves completely to God and to the preaching of the Gospel. This is particularly true if such a living community prays insistently for vocations and courageously proposes to its young people the path of special consecration.” (Chapter II, II, 107)
Pray
Today we can pray for our parish priests, religious, Bishops, and Pope! May God grant the shepherds of God the grace of untiring generosity. And, willingness to work the long hours. And, eagerness to empower their communities to live out their ultimate calling. Likewise, it is important to pray for their rest. Pray for the Holy Spirit to nourish their souls as they work and pray. Lastly, pray for renewal and fervor in our churches so men and women may answer the call to give themselves to Christ Crucified and tend to the flock.
