Today's Scripture Readings
Acts 8: 4-13 (NRSV)
Matthew 16: 13-19 (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
As an individual who is still very new to the Episcopal Church, I have to write that there is a part of me that struggles intensely with this Holy Day.
As Anglicans and Episcopalians are we not the people who do not claim the authority of the said to be Successor to St. Peter? Yes, we are.
The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Tradition are the via media between what is Catholic/Orthodox and what is Protestant. Our worship and spirituality are very Catholic. Our leadership and polity, combined with our appreciation for the great Protestant reformers like Martin Luther, John Calvin, John and Charles Wesley make us very much like Protestants.
So when I come to the date of January 18th and the Episcopal Church asks us to consider this Holy Day of the Confession of St. Peter, I find myself with a bit of confusion. I have to spend some time in thought and prayer about what the Episcopal Church and our Anglican Tradition is really saying about Peter and his confession of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.
Peter is not exactly the best guy to be considered as the first among the Apostles. He is stubborn. He is arrogant. Peter's faith is not too great. Peter has difficulties with Jesus. Right after the Gospel reading for today in the Bible there is the encounter with Jesus in which Peter tries to persuade Jesus to not go to Jerusalem to experience his death and resurrection. The very same Jesus who in today's Gospel tells Peter that he is the rock on which Jesus will build the Church, will say to Peter: 'Get behind me Satan!" Later on during Jesus trial, it is Peter who will deny Jesus three times after having sworn to Jesus that he would lay down his life for the Jesus that he loved so much.
So why is Peter considered the first among Apostles?
What is so great about Peter that Jesus gives him the keys that says whatever Peter loosens on earth will be lose in heaven and what ever is bound on earth will be bound in heaven?
Does that really mean that when Pope Benedict XVI says that "Gay marriage is a threat to humanity" that the Holy Spirit protects him from any and all sin when he is promoting such prejudice?
Peter is not made a great man or the rock because of who Peter is. The rock of Peter on which Jesus Christ has been building his Church is not a super power structure where one person is the universal dictator of all who call themselves Christians. That rock of Faith is not represented as the Bishop of Rome seeks through his Bishops to infiltrate National, State and local governments so that they can only accept their version of what is "true".
Jesus recognizes Peter's confession as an act of faith from a man who does not have all his ducks in a row, but listens to God with in his heart so that he can confess with his mouth that Jesus is the Messiah; the Son of the Living God. Jesus calls Peter the rock because of Peter's leap of faith that recognizes his own limitations, and that his only hope for salvation is to believe in God's perfect revelation in Jesus Christ. Jesus responds to Peter's faith making Peter's Confession that rock on which Jesus would build the Church.
The Messiah, the Son of God comes to establish a new justice through the establishment of God's reign through the Apostolic Succession. This Succession of the Apostolic ministry is one that is not driven by a dictatorship, but one that inspires people through that same leap of faith that was in Peter when he made his confession. A faith that is collaborative with diverse groups of people and seeks God through radical hospitality and the ministry of reconciliation.
Each Bishop knows that she/he is an imperfect person who will make mistakes and do wrong. The Bishops who have succeeded those first imperfect Apostles still come with their personal baggage; addictions, hunger for power vs the willingness to delegate and finds themselves battling the age old issue of money vs doing the right thing.
One individual once said: "The Church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum of Saints." Sadly, the worst sinners (and that can be any one of us) often spend much too much time worrying about others sins rather than taking care of our own.
Peter's confession is an invitation for all of us to ask ourselves about what kind of faith are we professing?
Keep in mind that professing and confessing our faith does not make us perfect, nor does that alone bring us salvation. The challenge for all of us is to live out that faith that we confess and profess by making it more than an abstraction. Our task is to make it real and visible through the ordinary moments of our lives.
Our faith moves from being an abstraction to being a live with the risen Christ when we reach beyond our prejudices and attitudes to help bring about God's reign of peace, justice, inclusion and equality for all marginalized persons. This means recognizing in people of different races, genders, sexual orientations and/or gender identities/expressions, languages, cultures, religions health and wealth statuses etc, the image of God and the hope for salvation in Jesus Christ. It means being willing to serve the poor and the disenfranchised through our prayers and being actively involved in making the Church and the world a better place for everyone.
We are invited today to meditate on this awesome confession; while still asking ourselves about how we are going to confess and profess our faith in the daily routine of our lives.
What will be our response?
Prayers
Acts 8: 4-13 (NRSV)
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is
`the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;
There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."
- it has become the cornerstone.'
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.
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 an individual who is still very new to the Episcopal Church, I have to write that there is a part of me that struggles intensely with this Holy Day.
As Anglicans and Episcopalians are we not the people who do not claim the authority of the said to be Successor to St. Peter? Yes, we are.
The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Tradition are the via media between what is Catholic/Orthodox and what is Protestant. Our worship and spirituality are very Catholic. Our leadership and polity, combined with our appreciation for the great Protestant reformers like Martin Luther, John Calvin, John and Charles Wesley make us very much like Protestants.
So when I come to the date of January 18th and the Episcopal Church asks us to consider this Holy Day of the Confession of St. Peter, I find myself with a bit of confusion. I have to spend some time in thought and prayer about what the Episcopal Church and our Anglican Tradition is really saying about Peter and his confession of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.
Peter is not exactly the best guy to be considered as the first among the Apostles. He is stubborn. He is arrogant. Peter's faith is not too great. Peter has difficulties with Jesus. Right after the Gospel reading for today in the Bible there is the encounter with Jesus in which Peter tries to persuade Jesus to not go to Jerusalem to experience his death and resurrection. The very same Jesus who in today's Gospel tells Peter that he is the rock on which Jesus will build the Church, will say to Peter: 'Get behind me Satan!" Later on during Jesus trial, it is Peter who will deny Jesus three times after having sworn to Jesus that he would lay down his life for the Jesus that he loved so much.
So why is Peter considered the first among Apostles?
What is so great about Peter that Jesus gives him the keys that says whatever Peter loosens on earth will be lose in heaven and what ever is bound on earth will be bound in heaven?
Does that really mean that when Pope Benedict XVI says that "Gay marriage is a threat to humanity" that the Holy Spirit protects him from any and all sin when he is promoting such prejudice?
Peter is not made a great man or the rock because of who Peter is. The rock of Peter on which Jesus Christ has been building his Church is not a super power structure where one person is the universal dictator of all who call themselves Christians. That rock of Faith is not represented as the Bishop of Rome seeks through his Bishops to infiltrate National, State and local governments so that they can only accept their version of what is "true".
Jesus recognizes Peter's confession as an act of faith from a man who does not have all his ducks in a row, but listens to God with in his heart so that he can confess with his mouth that Jesus is the Messiah; the Son of the Living God. Jesus calls Peter the rock because of Peter's leap of faith that recognizes his own limitations, and that his only hope for salvation is to believe in God's perfect revelation in Jesus Christ. Jesus responds to Peter's faith making Peter's Confession that rock on which Jesus would build the Church.
The Messiah, the Son of God comes to establish a new justice through the establishment of God's reign through the Apostolic Succession. This Succession of the Apostolic ministry is one that is not driven by a dictatorship, but one that inspires people through that same leap of faith that was in Peter when he made his confession. A faith that is collaborative with diverse groups of people and seeks God through radical hospitality and the ministry of reconciliation.
Each Bishop knows that she/he is an imperfect person who will make mistakes and do wrong. The Bishops who have succeeded those first imperfect Apostles still come with their personal baggage; addictions, hunger for power vs the willingness to delegate and finds themselves battling the age old issue of money vs doing the right thing.
One individual once said: "The Church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum of Saints." Sadly, the worst sinners (and that can be any one of us) often spend much too much time worrying about others sins rather than taking care of our own.
Peter's confession is an invitation for all of us to ask ourselves about what kind of faith are we professing?
Keep in mind that professing and confessing our faith does not make us perfect, nor does that alone bring us salvation. The challenge for all of us is to live out that faith that we confess and profess by making it more than an abstraction. Our task is to make it real and visible through the ordinary moments of our lives.
Our faith moves from being an abstraction to being a live with the risen Christ when we reach beyond our prejudices and attitudes to help bring about God's reign of peace, justice, inclusion and equality for all marginalized persons. This means recognizing in people of different races, genders, sexual orientations and/or gender identities/expressions, languages, cultures, religions health and wealth statuses etc, the image of God and the hope for salvation in Jesus Christ. It means being willing to serve the poor and the disenfranchised through our prayers and being actively involved in making the Church and the world a better place for everyone.
We are invited today to meditate on this awesome confession; while still asking ourselves about how we are going to confess and profess our faith in the daily routine of our lives.
What will be our response?
Prayers
Almighty Father, who inspired Saint 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. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 238).
Gracious Father, we pray for they holy Catholic Church. Fill it
with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt,
purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is
amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in
want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake
of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen. (Prayer for the Church, Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).
O merciful Father, who hast taught us in thy holy Word that
thou dost not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men:
Look with pity upon the sorrows of thy servant for whom
our prayers are offered. Remember him, O Lord, in mercy,
nourish his soul with patience, comfort him with a sense of
thy goodness, lift up thy countenance upon him, and give
him peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Those in Trouble or Bereavement, Book of Common Prayer, p. 831).
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