Today we celebrate the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, Apostle. The first reading comes from St. Peter’s first epistle and the Gospel reading is about him and his ministry. The psalm reading helps us to understand certain things that are in the first reading.

St. Peter speaks to the presbyters or priests in his epistle. He refers to them as those who tend the flock of God. They are shepherds or pastors. He tells them how to be a good shepherd. A good shepherd strives to lead the flock in such a way that they willingly follow him. They cannot be a shepherd to make money and they are not lords who put themselves over everyone but as fellow servants who lead by example. The priests are shepherds, but Jesus is the chief Shepherd. If the priests show people Jesus through their lives, there is an unfading crown of glory awaiting them.

How can a priest, a shepherd, be like the chief Shepherd? The psalmist says that the Lord is the type of shepherd who refreshes his soul. It is true that preaching and teaching the truth can unsettle people, but can a good shepherd also lead his flock beside restful waters? A good shepherd walks with his flock. As many have said, a shepherd will smell like the sheep. He is at their side when they walk through the dark valley. I work with elderly and sick people, and I have seen the darkness overcome in a patient who has their pastor by their side. A good priest gives his people courage and hope; he points them to the house of the Lord where they will dwell forever.

The Gospel reveals to us who Jesus is but also who Peter is. Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. I find it interesting that Matthew here refers to Peter as Simon Peter. He is writing in Greek and the name Jesus gave Simon in Aramaic, Kephas or Cephas, is translated as Peter in Greek. Peter now has two names (Simon and Peter) but in English it’s actually three (Simon, Cephas, and Peter which is the Greek translation of Cephas). The fact though is that this man is no longer Simon; he is Cephas/Peter which means rock. Jesus said that Simon was Cephas and on this cephas he would build his Church. No matter who has been the cephas on the throne of St. Cephas, the Church is secure. It’s founded on a rock. Jesus is the chief Shepherd. He will not allow his Church to be ruined. In fact, the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church. We are not playing defense. The Church is battering down the gates of hell and those gates cannot stand.

He who sits upon the chair of St. Peter has the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Let’s pray for him and all of our shepherds. May they be like the chief Shepherd, the good Shepherd, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.