Posted by The WORD in other words (2022) by Fr Simon Boiser — Germany
Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter
Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Saint Peter in Tears
In his homily during my priestly ordination in Germany, the consecrating bishop said, “These new priests from Asia will work in Germany. In the past, European missionaries went to the missions in the so-called third world countries and built churches there. Now it is the other way around: they are coming to us. But what can these foreign priests contribute?” It was a challenging question, which I carry as I continue my missionary work in Germany.
Admittedly I have no money to build churches, although there are enough church buildings in Germany, and some of them are empty. Despite my limitations and weaknesses, the Lord still entrusted me with a mission in his church. He does not seek the perfect and most qualified. He can be satisfied with those who are willing, dedicated, and faithful. A missionary, who is aware of his frailty, could become a man of prayer and live out his ministry in trust and dependence on God.
Such missionary was St. Peter, who is a down-to-earth fisherman and not a scholarly rabbi. That is probably why his answer to Jesus’ question is honest and personal. It does not come from other’s opinions and gossips; it comes from his heart and from the Holy Spirit, who inspired him. Faith is not a human achievement but a divine gift, which can only be received with an open mind and loving heart.
Jesus entrusted the keys to his Church to a lowly but faith-filled follower, who denied him thrice but later continued his mission and even died for him. Jesus saw something good in Peter, which made him entrust his Church, which Peter is part of. We Christians are like Peter. We are the living Church – the ecclesia or people of God. Jesus is also entrusting us today to continue his mission. We might not be able to build churches in concrete. But we can become small rocks in building the kingdom of God on earth.
