Weekly reflection written by Sr. Rosemary Finnegan, O.P.
Readings from: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022222.cfm
In the back of our chapel at our Motherhouse is a lovely large, wooden, high back, engraved chair where our Prioress used would sit for formal liturgical celebrations. From this chair, she led the prayers and made special announcements.
When Bishop Noonan was installed as the Bishop of the Orlando Diocese that is entrusted to him, part of that ceremony was that he, bearing the miter and the shepherd's crosier, sit on the official chair, called a “cathedra”, located behind the altar at St. James. From that seat he guides, as our shepherd, the journey of the faithful in faith, hope and charity. This special chair is the symbol of his authority as bishop and of his responsibility to guard and transmit the teachings of the church to our Christian community.
The liturgy celebrates today the feast of the Chair of St. Peter. The beginnings of this feast clearly were not because Peter sat on a chair; rather the chair is a symbol of St. Peter’s authority and his role, and that of his successors, as the servant leader of the unity of the entire church. The feast has a very ancient tradition, experienced in Rome since the end of the 4th century and focuses on giving thanks to God for the mission entrusted to the Apostle Peter and his successors.
While the Gospel reading for the Mass has remained the story of Jesus giving the "keys of the kingdom of heaven" to St. Peter, the prayers focus not on primacy of Peter and the popes, but on service, especially on serving the communion of the whole church.
How can we apply this feast to our lives? We respect our Pope and know that what we share in common with him, and all the bishops, is our baptism. By our baptism, we, too, are called to servant leadership in our own environments. But sometimes we’re a bit reluctant to be leaders, right? We certainly know St. Peter didn’t always rise to the occasion as a disciple of Christ. Before Pentecost when he was empowered by the Spirit, we often witnessed him as reticent to even acknowledge that he was a friend of Jesus.
When we feel some hesitancy to act in the name of Christ, we could remember this prayer called:
Prayer of a Reluctant Leader
By Joe Seremane
Lifelines/Christian Aid (adapted)
You asked for my hands that you might use them for your purpose,
I gave them for a moment, then withdrew them for the work was hard.
You asked for my mouth to speak out against injustice.
I gave you a whisper that I might not be accused.
You asked for my life that you might work through me.
I gave a small part that I might not get too involved.
Lord, forgive my calculated efforts to serve you
only when it is convenient for me to do so,
only in those places where it is safe to do so,
and only in those who make it easy to do so.
Lord, forgive me, renew me, heal me, nurture me,
empower me, send me out as an instrument of your peace
that I might take seriously the meaning of servant-leadership.
Amen.
