Faith, we know, is a gift from God.Jesus teaches this in His response to Peter's profession that Jesus is "the Christ, the Son of the Living God." The Father is the source of Peter's inspiration and knowledge. The Father gives the gift to Peter. Peter must make his act of the will to declare it to Jesus. What follows is the defining mission for Peter. He is the rock upon which Jesus will build His Church.
Because of the struggles that have marred the Church over the years, there are Christian communities that reject the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, as the current occupant of the Chair of Peter. However, in some circles there is hope that our Lord's desire the night before He died that we all be one is closer than ever before: "I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me." [John 17:21]
We can all at least agree that the work of the Holy Spirit, which our Lord left us, is at work in us and among us, when we work together in service of others, in unity and peace. The gates of hell won't prevail in dividing us forever. It is so clear in the last chapter of John's gospel that the mission of service which Jesus gives to Peter, and all those who sit in his chair, is one of feeding His sheep.
We can also agree that when we are baptized into Jesus, we all take on this shepherding, feeding, serving, uniting mission as well. However we use our gifts, as parents, business people, or the elderly - whatever our state of life and way of life - we all share this role of helping our Lord's desire come true.
Because of the struggles that have marred the Church over the years, there are Christian communities that reject the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, as the current occupant of the Chair of Peter. However, in some circles there is hope that our Lord's desire the night before He died that we all be one is closer than ever before: "I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me." [John 17:21]
We can all at least agree that the work of the Holy Spirit, which our Lord left us, is at work in us and among us, when we work together in service of others, in unity and peace. The gates of hell won't prevail in dividing us forever. It is so clear in the last chapter of John's gospel that the mission of service which Jesus gives to Peter, and all those who sit in his chair, is one of feeding His sheep.
We can also agree that when we are baptized into Jesus, we all take on this shepherding, feeding, serving, uniting mission as well. However we use our gifts, as parents, business people, or the elderly - whatever our state of life and way of life - we all share this role of helping our Lord's desire come true.
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