Sunday, 23 February, 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings — 1 Pt. 5:1-4; Ps. 23:1-3, 4, 5, 6; Mt. 16:13-19.

Some Notes on the Chair of St. Peter --

1. The feast is held on the 22 of February. The Chair or "Cathedra" is the fixed seat of the Bishop, placed in the mother church of the Diocese, hence the word "cathedral." The "cathedra" of St. Peter symbolizes his authority to govern and protect the flock and to transmit the Gospel to the whole Christian community.

According to Pope Benedict XVI, the first "cathedral" was the Upper Room where Jesus gathered his disciples to have the Last Supper and where they, along with the Blessed Mother, received the gift of the Holy Spirit. And there, Peter exercised  his leadership role, presiding at the choice of Mattias to replace Judas Iscariot and also giving the 1st proclamation of the Good News.

Peter moved to Antioch in AD 34, where he became the 1st Bishop of Antioch. Later he moved to Rome where he was martyred in AD 68. For this reason, it was decided that Rome would be the official location of the "Cathedra" of St. Peter. 

2. The feast was 1st celebrated in the 3rd century. At the heart of the feast is the pastoral and teaching authority conferred by Jesus to Peter (see today's Gospel, Mt. 16:13-19). Later, following the Resurrection, Jesus confirmed Peter's primacy over the other Apostles as well as his authority over His Church. He gave Peter the keys of the Kingdom and told him, "Feed my lambs....Feed my sheep" (see Jn. 21:15-17).

Peter and his papal successors were chosen as the visible and principal signs of unity, as Pope Benedict XVI said. Today's feast, therefore, is a recognition of the spiritual significance of St. Peter and his successors. They are, likewise, the privileged manifestation of God's love as the eternal Shepherd who wants to gather his entire Church and guide it on the path of salvation.

3. The "chair" is not only symbolic. It is actually a oaken chair used as a throne for the Pope. The present existing chair was a gift from the Emperor of the Romans, Charles the Bald, to Pope John VIII in 875. The reliquary which contains the chair is also in the form of a chair, located over the altar of the Basilica of St. Peter under the baldachin. At the concluding Mass of the Synod on Synodality, Pope Francis  had it placed at the center of the baldachin and then later it was returned to the reliquary. 

4. 1st Reading, 1 Pt. 5:1-4

This letter is addressed to the Gentile converts in Asia Minor and consists of a series of advices to various members of the Christian communities. Our first Reading is for the presbyters, the officially appointed leaders and teachers of the community. Peter writes as a "fellow presbyter," but one who is in a higher authoritative position. His main message: those entrusted with a pastoral office are to tend their flock by their care and example.

"Tend the flock in your midst, overseeing not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly" (v. 2). "Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock" (v. 3). "And when the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the unfading crown of glory" (v. 4). "Likewise, you younger members, be subject to the presbyters. And all of you, clothed yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for 'God opposes the proud but bestows favor on the humble.'" (v. 5).

5. Resp. Psalm, Ps. 23:1-3, 4, 5, 6

The Psalm presents the Good Shepherd as the exemplar for Peter's advice to the shepherds of the community. The Lord tends, feeds, and provides water for the flock. "The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I lack. In green pastures he makes me lie down, to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul. He guides me along the right path for the sake of his name" (vv. 1-3).

The Lord's presence gives courage in darkness, in the face of evil. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rid and your staff comfort me" (v. 4). "You set a table before me in front of my enemies; you anoint my  oil; my cup overflows" (v. 5). 

6. Gospel, Mt. 16:13-19

In the region of Caesarea Philippi, about 20 miles north of Galilea, Jesus asks his disciples what people say about himself. His disciples report that Jesus is John the Baptist or Elijah or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets (vv. 13-14). Then Jesus asks them, "Who do you say that  I am?" (v. 15). Simon Peter speaks for all the disciples, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (v. 16). 

7. Peter confesses Jesus as Messiah, a popular belief about Jesus. But in an astounding leap of faith, Peter confesses Jesus as the Son of the living God. Jesus is divine.

Jesus names the source of Peter's leap of faith. "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father (v. 17). Then Jesus hands Peter his commission to have primacy of authority and responsibility in the Church. "And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (v. 18).

And a final authority to bind and to loose from sin — "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" (v. 19). "Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Messiah" (v. 20), presumably, because the people had long believed that the Messiah would be a political savior-king.

8. Today's  Feast of the Chair of Peter is a special occasion to recommit ourselves to be united in mind and heart with our bishop and with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, successors of Peter and the Apostles. It is a special time to pray for holiness and wisdom for our shepherds, for unity in the Church; a special time to pray for the health of Pope Francis. 

9. Prayer -- O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, look favorably on your servant Francis, whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd. Grant, we pray, that he may fully recover his health and that, by word and example, he may be of service to those over whom he presides so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care, he may come to everlasting life, through Christ our Lord. Amen. (United States Conference of Bishops, modified). 

Prayers, best wishes, God bless!