20210222 AUTHORITY TO OVERSEE, GUARD AND FEED THE FLOCK OF CHRIST
22 February, 2021, Monday, Chair of St Peter, The Apostle
First reading | 1 Peter 5:1-4 © |
Watch over the flock, not simply as a duty but gladly
Now I have something to tell your elders: I am an elder myself, and a witness to the sufferings of Christ, and with you I have a share in the glory that is to be revealed. Be the shepherds of the flock of God that is entrusted to you: watch over it, not simply as a duty but gladly, because God wants it; not for sordid money, but because you are eager to do it. Never be a dictator over any group that is put in your charge, but be an example that the whole flock can follow. When the chief shepherd appears, you will be given the crown of unfading glory.
Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 22(23) © |
The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures
where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me,
to revive my drooping spirit.
The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me along the right path;
he is true to his name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness
no evil would I fear.
You are there with your crook and your staff;
with these you give me comfort.
The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.
You have prepared a banquet for me
in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil;
my cup is overflowing.
The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.
Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me
all the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell
for ever and ever.
The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.
Gospel Acclamation | Mt16:18 |
Glory and praise to you, O Christ!
You are Peter,
and on this rock I will build my Church.
And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ!
Gospel |
Matthew 16:13-19 © |
You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’
AUTHORITY TO OVERSEE, GUARD AND FEED THE FLOCK OF CHRIST
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [1 Peter 5:1-4; Psalm 23:1-6; Matthew 16:13-19 ]
Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Chair of Peter. This is an ancient feast celebrated in Rome towards the end of the fourth century. This feast is celebrated as a thanksgiving to God for the mission entrusted to the Apostle Peter and his successors. The word “chair” is a symbol of authority, which is also the same word used in secular, educational and corporate organizations. Chair refers to one who presides with authority. The Chair of Peter therefore refers to the authority entrusted to Peter and his successors to oversee the Church of Christ, to guard and feed the flock of Christ. From the word “chair” is derived the world “Cathedra” which means the seat of the bishop. Hence, the Cathedral is considered as the mother church of the diocese. It is here that the bishop exercises his authority in teaching and feeding the flock of Christ. He sits on the cathedra where he exercises his office as teacher and shepherd, leading the flock of Christ to grow in faith, hope and charity. In celebrating the Chair of Peter, we want to give thanks to God for the gift of the Holy Father and his successors in guiding her in the journey of faith. They are a sign of His providential love of His Church.
But today, the word “authority” is often met with suspicion. People do not wish to be told what to do. Everyone has his own mind. Gone are the days when authorities, whether secular, corporate or religious, can expect submission from those under their charge. Those in authority today have to explain their position, defend their policies and teachings. And at the end of the day, the flock decides whether to believe, to listen and to follow. This is because of relativism, individualism and a distrust not just in corporate, secular, political authority but especially in religious authority because of the abuses and scandals and bad examples of religious leaders. As such, there is a much higher expectation from people today when someone is a religious leader. Respect today is to be earned, not simply given because of the office.
This is why, bishops and all priests and religious leaders included, must avoid scandalizing the flock of Christ. Religious leaders, as Pope Francis often warns us, should be careful not to fall into spiritual worldliness. What temptations religious leaders can fall into are the same as those that plague the world. These are the same temptations Satan sought to distract Jesus from His ministry, by tempting Him to take the easy way out by His power to satisfy His material and physical hunger, or to show forth His power and authority, putting fear into the hearts of people to submit to Him, or to choose fame and glory. Today, priests are also tempted to abuse their power to satisfy their worldly needs. This is why St Peter cautioned the elders, “watch over it, not simply as a duty but gladly, because God wants it; not for sordid money, but because you are eager to do it.” The office of bishops as overseers must be assumed freely and always as an act of service and not because of greed for money or other worldly things. Otherwise, we end up serving ourselves and bringing discredit to the faith and destroying the People of God and those who are searching for Christ.
Within this context, it is important for us to understand better the exercise of authority of the Holy Father and that of the apostolic college of bishops. Indeed, the office of the Holy Father, and by derivation, the bishops, are overseers of the Catholic community, which is what the word, bishop really means. Bishops are deputized by our Lord to provide guidance and care for His flock. This is why bishops carry the crozier, the staff of a shepherd to signify their role to protect, defend and guard the flock under their care, more so than as a symbol of their authority. Of course, the Holy Father and the bishops are exercising this role on behalf of Christ. He is the Chief Shepherd and all bishops are called to be shepherds after His own heart. The Pope, as the Bishop of Rome, has a preeminent position to be the visible vicar of Christ as the head of the universal Church.
As shepherds of the flock of Christ, bishops are called to imitate Christ the Good and Chief shepherd of the flock. The shepherd leads not by driving his flock like cattle but as a shepherd walking ahead and among them, both in his words, deeds and examples. This is what St Peter wrote to the elders. “Be an example that the whole flock can follow.” This is why the exercise of this office requires humility in service. Authority is not to be abused or to dominate the lives of people. Authority is always exercised for the common good of all, especially in the proclamation of truth, in doctrines and morals. St Peter reminds the elders, “Never be a dictator over any group that is put in your charge.”
The authority of the Holy Father and all bishops working in communion with him, seeks to safeguard the deposit of faith entrusted to them and to keep the Church of God united in love, charity and in truth. St Paul reminds the elders in Ephesus, “Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them.” (Acts 20:28-30) This is why today, the Papacy is better referred to as the Petrine ministry, a service on behalf of the universal church rather than the emphasis on authority.
Unity and communion are important for the Church of Christ. Division in the Church causes weakness. This was why our Lord prayed in His last testament for unity in the Church. “As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. That they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (Jn 17:21-23) He also told the disciples, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Jn 13:34f)
The bishops together with the Holy Father are called to be the exemplar of communion. This is why bishops never act alone but always in communion with the head of the Church, the Holy Father. When the pope acts alone on doctrines and morals, he too always acts in communion with the apostolic college as its head. This is why there are limits on the exercise of papal infallibility as he cannot teach contrary to the deposit of faith. The word “college” means the exercise of authority requires consultation and dialogue. It is not an arbitrary exercise of authority like a dictator. This was what St Peter warned the elders.
Indeed, as shepherds of Christ, our Chief Shepherd, the Pope and the bishops do not represent themselves. This too should also be for our priests exercising their delegated role as teachers of the faith. We do not teach our opinions. Theological studies and insights are important but they do not have the last word. The gospel makes it clear that whatever science can offer, there are limits to what human reason can unveil. As the Lord said to Peter, “Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven.” Divine revelation is necessary as well. The authority to teach definitively and authoritatively is given to the Holy Father, teaching in communion as the head of the apostolic college. This is why the teaching of the Church must be under the Word of God. The Church is not above the scriptures but the Church is at the service of the Word of God, not as her master but a servant in the correct interpretation of the text.
Hence, we must always pray for our Holy Father and His bishops, that they be protected from error so that “the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it.” We must keep our Church leaders in prayer so that they can resist temptations as individuals, or be misled in the truth. All the more today, when Church leaders are tempted to compromise Church doctrines to suit the world rather than proclaim the truth of the gospel. When that happens, we fall into syncretism, accommodating the values of the world and denying the uniqueness of Christ.
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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