Ngày 22/2/ Lễ kính ngày Lập Tông Tòa Thánh Phêrô (Matthew 16:13-19 )
Người ta nói Con Người là ai? Những ý kiến bày tỏ về bản sắc của Chúa Jesus bị chia rẽ phân tâm. Một số người nghĩ Chúa là John the Baptist đã sống lại từ cõi chết; những người khác thì nghĩ Ngài là tiên tri Elijah, người tiên phong của Đấng Cứu thế, hay là tiên tri Giê-rê-mia hay một trong những tiên tri. Tuy nhiên, Chúa Giêsu muốn biết các môn đệ của Ngài nghĩ gì về Ngài khi Ngài hỏi họ: Còn các con, các con bảo Thầy là ai? Ông Phêrô đã trả lời là Thầy là Chúa Kitô, Con Thiên Chúa hằng sống. Việc công nhận này của Phêrô được Chúa chúc lành vì Chính Chính Thiên Chúa cha trên trời cho biết và Chúa Giêsu đã đặt tên cho ông có Nghĩa là đá và trên đá đó Phêrô được Chúa ban cho quyền bính và khóa để cai trị vương quốc của ngài, Phêrô đã trở thành quản gia của Vương quốc thiên đường trên trái đất, đó là người thường trực công việc quản gia. Vì vậy, sự quản lý và lãnh đạo trong cộng đồng Kitô hữu chúng ta được dựa trên lòng trung cuêa thanh Phêrô.
Trong bài đọc thứ Nhất, Peter tỏ ra cho chúng ta biết rõ về những phẩm chất của một người lãnh đạo. Là người từng theo Chúa từ ngay những ngày đầu, Thánh Phêrô thực sự là một nhân chứng cho sự đau khổ của Jesus và thánh Phêrô cũng là nhân chứng đáng chú ý vì chính mình ngài cũng đã phải chịu những sự đau khổ này. Qua hình ảnh người chăn chiên của Chúa, với tư cách là người giám sát, và như những người lớn tuổi kỳ lão nhất thường đề cập đến trong hình ảnh những nhà lãnh đạo Israel. Thánh Phêrô cũng cảnh báo rằng một nhà lãnh đạo không phải là một lãnh chúa có quyền hơn những người khác. Đức Giáo hoàng Phanxicô thường nhắc đến điều này trong các chuyến mục vụ trong Giáo hội. Trong ngày mừng lễ này, ngày lập toà thánh PHÊRÔ Xin Chúa, ban cho chúng ta có được những ân sủng để biết nghe theo lời kêu gọi sống đạo đức của các Giáo Hoàng,.
Feb 22/2019 Reflection Chair of Saint Peter, the Apostle
Who do people say the Son of Man is?” The opinions expressed on Jesus’ identity are much divided. Some suggested him as John the Baptist risen from the dead; others Elijah, the fore-runner to the Messiah and Jeremiah as one of the prophets. Yet Jesus wanted to know what his disciples think about him when he asked them: “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” This double recognition by Peter became an occasion for the ‘Beatitudes’ and ‘new’ name, given to Peter as the Heavenly Father had revealed this truth to him. In v.19, the metaphors ‘rock’ and then ‘keys’ are referred. In the Old Testament, ‘to give the keys’ means to bestow authority. In receiving ‘the keys of the kingdom’, Peter became the steward of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth which is the permanent character of the steward’s work. So stewardship and leadership in the community is based on the kind of fidelity shown by Peter.
In the first reading, Peter spelt out the qualities of a leader. Being with Jesus from the early days of his ministry, Peter was truly a witness to Jesus’ suffering and Peter bore notable witness to this in his own suffering. The image of the ‘shepherd of God’s flock’, ‘as overseers’ and as ‘elders’ refer to that of the leaders of Israel. Peter also cautioned that a leader is not to lord it over others. Pope Francis has often reiterated this in our services in the Church. On this Feast of the Chair of Peter, Lord, grant us the graces to know the call to leadership as one of service.
22nd Feb 201 CHAIR OF SAINT PETER, THE APOSTLE
“Simon, Simon! Satan you must know has got his wish to sift you all like wheat; but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail, and, once you have returned, you in your turn must strengthen your brothers”.(Lk. 22:32).
Today’s Entrance Antiphon, taken from this passage, has a spiritual relevance beyond the context of the Last Supper. Space does not allow a full comment here, but a few indications may guide the reader. Jesus speaks to Peter in a more personal and intimate way, using his own name, Simon, not his “apostolic” name, “Peter”. He then reminds him that God will be present whatever events happen to draw good out of them.
Jesus then makes a remarkable statement: he has prayed for Simon. This is the only time that Jesus affirms that he prayed for an individual. We note that Jesus does not pray that Simon will not deny him. The focus of Jesus’ prayer is Simon himself. Moreover, Jesus is confident that his prayer will be answered: Simon possesses strong qualities which will help him to get beyond this crisis and assume a ministry of strengthening his brothers and sisters.
Lord Jesus pray for us, Your people that our faith may not fail; may we always be able to strengthen our brothers and sisters.
Meditation:
At an opportune time Jesus tests his disciples with a crucial question: Who do men say that I am and who do you say that I am? He was widely recognized in Israel as a mighty man of God, even being compared with the greatest of the prophets, John the Baptist, Elijah, and Jeremiah. Peter, always quick to respond, exclaimed that he was the Christ, the Son of the living God. No mortal being could have revealed this to Peter; but only God. Jesus then confers on Peter authority to govern the church that Jesus would build, a church that no powers would overcome. Jesus plays on Peter's name which is the same word for "rock" in both Aramaic and Greek. To call someone a "rock" is one of the greatest of compliments.
The ancient rabbis had a saying that when God saw Abraham, he exclaimed: "I have discovered a rock to found the world upon". Through Abraham God established a nation for himself. Through faith Peter grasped who Jesus truly was. He was the first apostle to recognize Jesus as the Anointed One (Messiah and Christ) and the only begotten Son of God. The New Testament describes the church as a spiritual house or temple with each member joined together as living stones (see 1 Peter 2:5). Faith in Jesus Christ makes us into rocks or spiritual stones. The Lord Jesus tests each of us personally with the same question: Who do you say that I am?
"Lord Jesus, I profess and believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. You are my Lord and my Savior. Make my faith strong like Peter's and give me boldness to speak of you to others that they may come to know you personally as Lord and Savior and grow in the knowledge of your love".
REFLECTION
In today's Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, we celebrate the authority given by Jesus to Peter, our first Pope, and to all the Popes, bishops, and priests that have contributed to the building of the Church. The clergy's authority is not one like that of a king or emperor. The authority of our bishops and priests is one of service. We admire our priests and nuns for their charity and their ability to listen. We appreciate their sensitivity and kindness to the sick and elderly. We are touched when they bless and pray for those who have passed away.
It is noteworthy that despite our appreciation of them, we sometimes catch ourselves apathetic or indifferent when these same priests and nuns are teaching about the Bible or about God and faith. How many times have we really listened to the homily or made the effort to attend a talk given by a religious regarding current issues affecting our Church? We are thankful to the clergy for their work but perhaps we sometimes ignore what they preach, which is the important aspect that we need to pay attention to.
Let us pray that God will grant us the eagerness to listen to the religious - our priests and nuns, for theirs is where we hear of Jesus' authority on faith, hope, and love of God.
REFLECTION
Christ gave Simon the name Cephas which means Rock. This new name indicates a task, a preeminence among the disciples. Peter was chosen not because of his personal merit but because of the mission Christ entrusted to him which must be fulfilled with faithfulness and love. Just like his master, Christ, the Good Shepherd, Peter has the power to save the faithful from death and to communicate to them divine life. The keys entrusted to him that binds and looses refers to the "capacity to exercise disciplinary power of admitting or excluding those he thinks fit. Also in his administration of the Church, he makes necessary decisions in questions of doctrinal belief and moral conduct. The verdict he delivers and the pronouncements he makes will be ratified by God in heaven" (footnote Jerusalem Bible). This promise holds also for the successors of Peter because Christ intends to provide his Church's future a regime that will not collapse with Peter's death.
This is not an easy task that is why we should constantly pray for our Pope, the present day Peter. Let us also listen to him because he is the Vicar of Christ. By listening and obeying him, we also obey Christ.
Comment
I say to you: You are Peter (or Rock) and on this rock I will build my Church
Today, we celebrate the Chair of St. Peter. Since the 4th century, the Church wants to emphasize with this celebration the fact that —as a gift from Jesus Christ to us— the edifice of his Church stands upon the Prince of the Apostles, who enjoys a peculiar divine help to fulfill that mission. This is how the Lord said it at Caesarea Philippi: «You are Peter (or Rock) and on this rock I will build my Church» (Mt 16:18). Indeed, «from the whole world Peter alone is chosen to take the lead in calling all nations, to be the head of all the Apostles and of all the Fathers of the Church» (St. Leo the Great). From its very beginning, the Church has benefited of this stony ministry so that St. Peter and his related successors, have presided over charity, have been a source of unity and, most especially, have had the mission to confirm their brothers in the truth.
Once He resurrected, Jesus confirmed this mission to Simon Peter. He, who deeply repented and had already cried over his triple denial before Jesus, makes now a triple statement of love: «Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you» (Jn 21:17). Henceforth, the Apostle will be soothed when realizing Jesus Christ does not deny him and, for three times, He confirms him in the ministry he had been announced before: «Tend my sheep» (Jn 21:16-17). This authority is not conferred because of his own merits, as, Simon's declaration of faith, at Caesarea, was not either: «for it is not flesh or blood that has revealed this to you but my Father in heaven!» (Mt 16:17). Yes, this is an authority granted with the supreme power to serve. This is why the Roman Pontiff, when signing his writings, he does it with the honorific title of: Servus servorum Dei. It is, therefore, a power to serve the cause of the unity based upon truth. We undertake to pray for the successor of St. Peter, to intently listen to his words and to be grateful to God for this gift.
REFLECTION
We should be careful of what we say. From the tongue can come both praises and curses. It takes very little to cause harm to others by what we inadvertently say to them. However, often we find ourselves letting our tongues speak out of control, especially when the conversation starts to focus on the faults or misconceptions of others. The first reading reminds and warns us to be more careful of the evils that can come about as a result of the improper control of our tongues.
During his transfiguration, Jesus personally chose three disciples to be with him at the Mount of Olives. Even if these disciples did not yet fully understand the meaning of Jesus' actions, this was a part of the vision of the glory of God in Jesus that is to come. When we reflect on our own lives, have we ever experienced finding a
place that is most like the Mount of Olives where we grasped a bit of Jesus' glory in a special way? What to you is the meaning of the words, "This is my Son, whom I love; listen to him"? Do these words affect us in such a way that we realize that the Lord is telling us to be still and know that he is God and that the splendor of the transfiguration is the proof that Jesus is his son?
REFLECTION
Perhaps we have had a mountaintop experience one way or another in our lives. It can be our marriage, the birth of a child, a reunion between enemies, a miraculous healing, or even when our family lived in relative peace and harmony. That is what the transfiguration event is telling us. That is what happens to us when we experience God's presence in the ordinary events of life. But there is another side to the coin. It is not enough that we experience God's immediate presence; we must also be willing to come back down to the valley in order to reflect the image of the unseen God as Jesus did. In the transfiguration story, having witnessed the glory of God shining in and through Jesus, Peter did not want to leave the mount of transfiguration. Peter did not want to go back to the troubles down below. But Jesus' mission was not that way. He led the apostles down the mountain and into the valley where they could reflect the image of God in and through their ministry of loving service.
We need not travel far in order to experience God's presence. We can find God right in our homes and places of work. God's presence could be in such ordinary situations as the drudgery of everyday work, the hard to please, the sick. When we get discouraged, let us be reminded that that is the same rough road which the Father had chosen for His Son. But that road led to the glory of the Father
No comments:
Post a Comment