GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 22ND FEBRUARY 2017
THE CHAIR OF ST. PETER THE APOSTLE – FEAST
1ST READING: 1Peter 5:1-4
PSALM: Psalm 23:1-6
GOSPEL: Matthew 16:13-19
THEME: CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP
Leadership is critical in every sphere of human life. A soccer team, for example, may have skilful individual players but the inability of its leadership to effectively synergize the skills that the players bring on board would incapacitate the team in many ways and thus prevent them from going for gold.
Leadership, in some spheres, may connote power, honour, prestige or even personal advantage. Christian leadership, however, is of a different kind. It is leadership inspired by Christian values. This is accentuated in our First Reading – “I exhort the elders among you to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it– not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away” (1Pt 5:1-4).
In our Gospel text, Jesus turns to Peter, the apostle, and says, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Mat 16:18-19).
Take note, it was not Peter who usurped the seat of primacy. It was conferred on him by Jesus Christ. This means that it is Jesus who appoints leaders in his Church. No one grabs this honour for himself. The history of Christianity has taught us that those who force their way through and surface as leaders in the Church without any divine approbation fail woefully.
The “chair of Peter” is occupied one at a time. There are no two “chairs”. Presently, there is only one person sitting on that chair – the pope. However, there are many chairs of leadership in the Christian community and those who sit on those chairs must fulfil the duties that go with it.
As we thank God for our leaders in the Church, let us find time today and pray for them. They need us as much as we need them.
PRAYER: Lord, we pray for all the leaders of your Church. Give them the necessary graces and strength they need to fulfil the tasks you have entrusted to them; for the sake of the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).