MONDAY 22ND FEBRUARY 2021
FEAST OF THE CHAIR OF ST PETER
I Peter 5:1-4, Matthew 16:13-19
YOU ARE PETER AND IN THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH
Today we celebrate the feast of the chair of St. Peter. Someone may ask why we are celebrating a common chair. The chair of St. Peter is not just a common chair, but the chair that stands for the foundation and unity of the church founded by Jesus Christ. Every day in our society, especially in our country Nigeria, we see new churches springing up and people are ordaining themselves ministers. In the gospel reading of today, we see how Jesus established his church here on earth and entrusted its leadership to St Peter his apostle. With that, Peter became the first pope of the church of Christ. Other popes have come after Peter till today that we have Pope Francis who is the 266th pope after St Peter. The Church therefore has its roots and foundation in the Apostles and ipso facto in Jesus Christ himself. It is therefore not a human invention and someone did not just wake up one day and feel called to open the church. The Church has passed through a lot of tribulations, but the promise of Jesus in the gospel reading of today that the gates of the underworld shall not overcome it is very true. It is also true that the church has the key to the kingdom of heaven as Jesus said, because Christ has given to the Church all the necessary means of salvation as seen in the sacraments and other activities of the Church.
This is why St Peter tells us in the gospel reading of today that God calls shepherds to lead his flock back to him. Ministers of the gospel should ask themselves today if they are really doing the work of God. It is not done for sordid money or personal gain as we see today, but in sincere love of God and humanity. Legend has it that the chair of pope St Peter given to him by Jesus, has some part of it in the same chair pope Francis uses today. The question you are to ask yourself today is whether you are being led to Christ in the right channel established by Christ himself, and how as a minister, you are committed to lead people back to God.
May we not be deceived by any self acclaimed person not appointed by God. God help us. Amen
Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP
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