Gospel: Matthew 16: 13-19
We break the Lenten fast today in order to consider a piece of furniture on which its namesake never sat. (Middle Easterners sat on pillows on the floor). Leaving that aside, the origins of the feast are ancient and the original purpose of the feast was to bring together people in unity, focusing on that primary aspect of Peter's ministry of feeding the flock, keeping it together, and strengthening others in their walk of faith. That this ministry has become a source of division is indicative of the fact that our emphasis on power and claims of superiority have shadowed the real mission Peter had in bringing unity and feeding the sheep.
Even within the Roman Catholic tradition there is no unity regarding the ministry of Peter. Traditionalists haven't obeyed a pope since the early 1950's, finding a host of teachings on social justice they find objectionable. Progressive Catholics too find fault with their own list of things they'd rather set aside. Each will cite certain popes and certain statements to defend their positions, each picking and choosing, each with a tray in the cafeteria.
What, then, does such a feast mean, what does Peter's ministry itself mean? Perhaps if we set aside the claims to power and authority and focus on faith itself - that our mission is to bring people closer to God, not to sell timeshares in a pew and increase the church coffers - then we might get somewhere in church and wider Christian unity.
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