Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle

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“… And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

- Matthew 16: 18-19

Do you remember the first time you were handed a set of keys? Whether they were to open your front door, a diary, a locker, or even a car - that first touch of the metal in the palm of your hands made you feel something. Did you feel powerful? Did you feel an instant surge of responsibility? Was it independence, or maybe you sensed you had a secret power no one else had? I guess it would all depend on what the key opened, but either way, a key itself is more than just a key. Keys are more than merely a piece of carved metal, they are something more.

I remember my first set of keys to my front door growing up. There were multiple first sets of keys, as I often lost them. Along with the multiple sets, there were also multiple locks replaced once I discovered my missing keys. Sorry Dad! Even though I might not have been the most responsible kid, I did realize how important it was to have a set of keys. It meant that my parents trusted me, it meant that they felt I was old enough to be home on my own for a few hours each day after school. It meant that they knew that I could handle myself and take care of things.

Looking back on this and reflecting on the Gospel, it makes you wonder how St. Peter felt when Jesus explained how he would receive “the keys to the kingdom of heaven.” Did St. Peter feel that sudden rush of power and responsibility that we have all experienced ourselves? Did Jesus see in St. Peter what my parents saw in me when they decided to give me my first set of keys? Did St. Peter worry he would lose the keys?

We don’t think of it often, but St. Peter was human, just like you or I. Jesus saw in St. Peter the qualities of someone trustworthy and responsible. Someone who could lead, and have others follow him, someone who might make mistakes but also learn from them. Jesus knew that St. Peter was capable and responsible. He knew that he would be the person to build our church, and to build our faith.

It is important to remember that when we are given responsibilities, it is because someone knows we will be able to handle it better than we ever think we can. Do not second guess and remind yourself that you sometimes need to see the trust that others see in you, just as Jesus did with St. Peter.

Christina Scotti-Morreale

SFC, Class of 2011