Search
-
February 22, 2022Today’s feast and gospel passage focus our attention on the primary role that Peter played among the leaders of the early Church and Jesus
passing on the mantel of authority to Peter -
“on this rock I will build my church …. I will entrust to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you declare bound on earth….”
Whatever Jesus envisioned when he used the word “church” (and there are varying understandings of this word as used by Jesus among Scripture scholars), it is clear that Jesus hoped and expected his followers to endure to continue the mission of the Kingdom. And it is also clear that Peter was to have primacy in the exercise of authority in this group.
We are all very familiar with both the meaning and the exercise of authority, as we experience it in different contexts. The authority of a parent; a teacher; a police officer; a doctor; etc. And we all know that any group or organization needs structure and leadership (authority) simply to function!
Yet the authority of a police officer who pulls us over for speeding is not to be confused with the moral authority that Mother Teresa exercised on the world stage over national leaders. The nature of authority varies according to the context.
Today’s feast focuses our attention on authority as it is understood, and hopefully exercised, in the Christian context. I once read, and have since believed very firmly, that the legitimacy of authority as exercised in the Catholic Church, is to be found in and based on the Washing of the Feet at the Last Supper. This last minute (and desperate?) attempt by Jesus to communicate to his disciples (who moments before were arguing about who was to be Numero Uno in the kingdom of heaven) the central message and importance of service in His kingdom. “Servant Leadership” is what Jesus calls His Church to model and live out.
“I have come, not to be served, but to serve.” (Mt. 20: 28)
May all of us who find ourselves in positions of authority, of whatever kind, grow in this same selfless spirit of service.
Examples of abuse of authority, sadly, are all too numerous.
