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| Peter and his brother Andrew were the first disciples Jesus called. Peter is perhaps the epitome of a saint: a thousand times wrong, even grievously so, yet the rock upon whom Christ built his church. (Taken from The Daily Office Site). |
Matthew 16:13-19 (NRSV)
When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 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."
Blog Reflection
"As we watch Peter struggle with himself, often stumble, love his Lord and deny him, speak rashly and act impetuously, his life reminds us that our Lord did not come to save the godly and strong but to save the weak and the sinful. Simon, an ordinary human being, was transformed by the Holy Spirit into the "Rock," and became the leader of the Church." (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 174).
When I first read this paragraph for today's commemoration of the Confession of Saint Peter the Apostle, I had a bit of a problem with it. I remember my own days of being an arch-conservative Catholic and thinking that the Pope in Rome could do no wrong. In addition to trying to treat being gay or lesbian as men or women with "same-sex attraction" the ex-gay Courage Roman Catholic group in America seeks to help their members live in "chastity" according to the understanding and teaching of the Pope and the Catholic church. However, as the paragraph from Holy Women, Holy Men suggests, Peter was certainly not a perfect man. Neither is the Pope or any Bishop, Priest or Deacon. Therefore, Courage RC is also wrong and far from perfect. Ex-gay groups are down right evil.
The Confession of St. Peter reminds us that our Christian Faith comes from what we believe in our hearts and minds. Church Tradition and human reason says that what we believe in our hearts and minds actually lives when we actively seek the justice, equality and inclusion of all humankind. Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ was a defining moment for him, just as it is for all who profess being a Christian. But that definition was only the beginning. Well after his confession, Peter struggled, failed, learned and had to be confronted for being wrong on many occasions. It was Peter's faith that was weak which is why he began to sink as Jesus walked on the water towards him. It was Peter who denied Jesus three times and had to be reinstated by Jesus asking Peter if Peter loved Jesus three times. (See John 21: 15-22). Peter and Paul had an argument over Peter's conservatism over whether Gentile converts to Christianity should be circumcised according the Jewish Law or not. Yet the faith that Peter confessed made him, an imperfect, sinful man the Rock on which Christ would build up the Church. Jesus did not install Peter as a worldwide political super power as has unfortunately happened in the Roman church over the years. Jesus called Peter to be a spiritual leader. To learn as well as to advise. And to help the Church to always be open to learning and growing.
Confessing Jesus as the Christ should be accompanied not only with piety, but also a determination to seek out the common good by working for the justice, equality and inclusion of those who remain marginalized, oppressed and in need of our concern and help. If our confession of Jesus is limited to our own personal selves which is good in and of itself, we become lamps hidden with no light for others to see. When we use the Name of Jesus the Christ to negatively stereotype people of diverse races, religions, sexual orientations, genders, gender identities/expressions, languages, health, wealth etc, and seek to take away their basic human rights, Jesus gets a bad Name. When Christians use Jesus Christ to plan to repeal health care reform, burn Qu-rans, violate the Jewish people, and discriminate against women, LGBT, Native Americans, African Americans and so forth, Christians get labeled negatively and people are led to believe that Jesus Christ was and is nothing more than a legendary fairy tale. If we want our confession of faith to live and inspire others, we have to become inclusive, accepting, forgiving and let go of our erroneous understandings of the Bible and Church history.
St. Peter's Confession is the confession of Faith for all Christians. If we really believe in Jesus as the Christ and want to live that faith in our lives, than we must also be open to the transformation that confession will bring to our lives, the Church and the world. That transformation includes being open to learning the Bible anew with the help of critical and accurate Biblical scholarship, not Biblical Literalism nor allowing the Church alone to determine what the Scriptures mean. The transformation of a world from injustice, inequality and oppression into one of justice, equality and freedom for all people should be the wish and work of all who confess Jesus as the Christ. We must be open to seeing our own prejudices for what they are and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts as she did with St. Peter, so that we can be open to keep learning about this incredible Faith of what it means to be a Christian. And understand that if our Faith stops with our prejudices, that Faith along with the Church will die. As Christians we believe that Jesus Christ is Lord of both the living and the dead, which includes all of God's people. Therefore, our Christian Church and our hearts that confess belief in Jesus as the Christ must also include all of God's people. No exceptions.
Prayers
Almighty Father, who inspired Simon Peter, first among the apostles, to confess Jesus as Messiah and Son of the living God: Keep your Church steadfast upon the rock of this faith, so that in unity and peace we may proclaim the one truth and follow the one Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for the Confession of St. Peter, Book of Common Prayer, page 238).
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, page 815).
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