{"id":44006,"date":"2014-02-22T03:08:22","date_gmt":"2014-02-22T09:08:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.austincnm.com\/?p=44006"},"modified":"2014-02-23T00:50:52","modified_gmt":"2014-02-23T06:50:52","slug":"chair-st-peter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2014\/02\/chair-st-peter\/","title":{"rendered":"The Chair of St. Peter"},"content":{"rendered":"

(31) \u201cSimon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,\u00a0(32) but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren<\/b>.\u201d\u00a0(33) And he said to him, \u201cLord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.\u201d\u00a0(34) He said, \u201cI tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you three times deny that you know me.\u201d<\/p>\n

-Luke 22:31-34<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What beauty! The Lord Jesus powerfully exhorted Peter in this passage. Yes, he prophesied the three-fold denial. We must also remember the seriousness of Peter\u2019s role among the apostles. Satan demanded<\/i> to have him. Satan knew there was something special about Peter and wanted to strike him down, to take him away from the mission of Jesus. In verse 31, \u201cyou\u201d is plural. In verse 32, \u201cyou\u201d is singular. Take that into consideration. Jesus spoke to Peter while referencing and addressing the apostles. However, in the following verse, it is the faith of Peter himself that will strengthen his brethren.<\/p>\n

Peter is a symbol of unity of the Church. Why? Because Jesus entrusted this role to him. The faith and strength of the universal pastor, the visible head of the Catholic Church, is part of what makes the church visible<\/i>. Yes, we Christians have an invisible<\/i> unity; we call it the mystical body of Christ spread throughout the world. In addition, we also have a visible<\/i> unity. God became incarnate, became visible. Think about evangelism. Is the fruit of evangelism only a mere agreement to believe the same things the evangelizer believes? It can\u2019t be!<\/p>\n

Yes, we need belief, we need faith. But, to say the unity of the Christian people is only<\/i> invisible is wrong. To say the church is the entire Christian people spread throughout the world with no visible unity offends the action of God. God became incarnate. He did not make himself less<\/i> visible but more<\/i> visible in the person of Jesus Christ. The Incarnate Word is the very reason redemption is possible for us today. Did Jesus \u00a0say you must agree with what he taught? No, he said \u201cfollow me,\u201d \u201ctake up your cross,\u201d \u201clove one another as I have loved you.\u201d These are action words, not hide-inside-and-be-only-intellectual words.<\/p>\n

Think about it. How else will anyone come to believe that Jesus Christ was sent by the Father but by visible<\/i> Christian unity? Have you not read the prayer of Jesus himself in regard to this matter?<\/p>\n

\u201cI do not pray for these [apostles] only, but also for those who believe in me through their word<\/b>,\u00a0that they may all be one<\/b>; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.<\/b>\u00a0The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,\u00a0I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one<\/b>, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me.\u201d<\/p>\n

-John 17:20-23<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What beauty! Can you begin to see the significance of Jesus\u2019 exhortation to Peter? Peter was the visible sign of unity among the apostles. For proof, read the Acts of the Apostles and notice how frequently Peter speaks for the apostles or in representation of the community. Did this unity dissolve when Peter died? No, it continued! Catholics call that apostolic succession. I\u2019m not sure what other denominations call it.<\/p>\n

Acts 1:12-26 has the first story of apostolic succession. The apostles discern and choose someone to replace Judas Iscariot. They enroll Matthias<\/i> as an apostle. This doesn\u2019t mean the apostleship of ministry of Jesus is limited to twelve people. Rather, it demonstrates the continuity and necessity of people to take responsibility for the mission of Jesus. This action shows that the visible unity (apostolic) and universal mission (catholic) of the one Church of Christ is meant to be carried on through the ages, and is not meant to die off as the apostles died off.<\/p>\n

The Chair of Peter testifies to that continued unity of the Christian people. Is there one Lord? Then there is one Church. How many New Jerusalems appear in the vision John has in Revelation? One! There was one holy city of Jerusalem, one covenant between God and His people. There is one Bride of Christ to whom he weds himself. Yes, we are different members and parts, but of the same body. That body is visible. It was visible 2,000 years ago and it is visible today.<\/p>\n

St. Paul affirms this when he writes that he is eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit<\/i> in the bond of peace. He says there is one<\/i> body and one<\/i> Spirit, one<\/i> hope, one<\/i> Lord, one<\/i> faith, one<\/i> baptism, one<\/i> God and Father of all (Ephesians 4:1-6). He is clear. What else does he say about the Church? He says it is built upon the foundation of the apostles<\/i> and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone (2:20). This echoes the language of Acts 1:12-26. Yes, the Lord Jesus is the cornerstone, is the Head of the Church. The Church is also built upon the apostles and their faithfulness to Christ. Remember again what Jesus said to Peter (Luke 22:32).<\/p>\n

This \u201cfoundation of apostles\u201d is echoed in Revelation. Remember it is a vision of the Church finally triumphing and meeting the Lord face to face. It is envisioned as a holy city, \u201cThe New Jerusalem.\u201d John says that this city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (21:14). Hello? John said twelve three times. This reminds the reader of the (desired) unity of the twelve tribes of Israel. They were scattered through a certain land area but all united in the one holy city.<\/p>\n

So too, the Christian people are scattered throughout the world but all (meant to be) united in the Chair of Peter, to be united in the Catholic (universal) Church. The Christian people have their earthly-holy city in Vatican City. Let us rejoice in this great gift! May the faith of Peter and his successors strengthen us to follow Jesus to the Cross.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"The

The Chair of St. Peter<\/p><\/div>\n

This article<\/a> writes about the same topic but in a different light.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(31) \u201cSimon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,\u00a0(32) but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren.\u201d\u00a0(33) And he said to him, \u201cLord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.\u201d\u00a0(34)… [Read More]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[90],"tags":[617,1631,50],"class_list":{"0":"post-44006","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-faith-blog","7":"tag-apologetics","8":"tag-apostolic-succession","9":"tag-faith","10":"entry","11":"has-post-thumbnail"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":395003,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2017\/04\/7-contemplative-gazes\/","url_meta":{"origin":44006,"position":0},"title":"The 7 Contemplative Gazes","author":"Deacon Guadalupe Rodriguez","date":"April 23, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Peter constantly gazed at Our Lord but like most of us listened poorly. \u00a0The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains how \"gazing\" at Jesus is a form of contemplation by stating, \u201cContemplation is a gaze of faith fixed on Jesus.\u201d \u00a0(2715) \u00a0Contemplation is the highest form of worship, and it\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Column"","block_context":{"text":"Column","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/column\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/transfiguration-large-icon-550x309.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/transfiguration-large-icon-550x309.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/transfiguration-large-icon-550x309.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":141565,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2015\/08\/asking-back-asking-jesus-his-own-question\/","url_meta":{"origin":44006,"position":1},"title":"Asking Back: Asking Jesus His Own Question","author":"Shawn Rain Chapman","date":"August 25, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"We are sitting in a bar on a hot summer day. I stare at my dejected feet on the bar stool, then out the door at the hot day, the burning sidewalk, the occasional overheated human being passing by. I don't want to look at him, though I am relieved\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith"","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/faith-blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"photo by Renee Bork","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/11143179_10205054495455907_3510032705709859374_n-525x700.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/11143179_10205054495455907_3510032705709859374_n-525x700.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/11143179_10205054495455907_3510032705709859374_n-525x700.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":197962,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2016\/01\/197962\/","url_meta":{"origin":44006,"position":2},"title":"Sunday Says January 10, 2016 Mass Readings and Reflection","author":"Crist\u00f3bal Almanza Herrera","date":"January 10, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The Baptism of the Lord Sunday January 10, 2016 Lectionary: 21 (NAB Translation) [powerpress] We celebrate the official end to the great season of Christmas with this week's Solemnity. Reading 1 Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 The first reading from the prophet Isaiah returns to a period where we placed a lot\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sunday Says"","block_context":{"text":"Sunday Says","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/podcast\/sundaysays\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sunday Says Podcast","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/SundaySaysPodcast-logo-300x231.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":110645,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2015\/05\/homily-on-the-works-of-mercy\/","url_meta":{"origin":44006,"position":3},"title":"Homily on the Works of Mercy","author":"Deacon Guadalupe Rodriguez","date":"May 4, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"This homliy was given at St Mary Cathedral in downtown Austin, TX on April 30, 2015 in the fourth week of Easter [powerpress] Jesus in the priest and in the deacon as servant. Homily based on the Gospel of John 13:16-20 The Corporal Works of Mercy Feed the hungry Give\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith"","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/faith-blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Jesus Washing Peter's Feet - Ford Madox Brown ","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/JesusWashingDisciplesFeet-550x482.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/JesusWashingDisciplesFeet-550x482.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/JesusWashingDisciplesFeet-550x482.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":149306,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2015\/09\/sunday-says-september-13-2015-mass-readings-and-reflection\/","url_meta":{"origin":44006,"position":4},"title":"Sunday Says – September 13, 2015 Mass Readings and Reflection","author":"Crist\u00f3bal Almanza Herrera","date":"September 12, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Sunday September 13, 2015 Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 131 (NAB Translation) Reading 1 Isaiah 50:5-9A This week\u2019s first reading from the Prophet Isaiah is part of the songs of the suffering servant. In context of the time this was written, this section probably didn\u2019t make much sense to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sunday Says"","block_context":{"text":"Sunday Says","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/podcast\/sundaysays\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sunday Says Podcast","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/SundaySaysPodcast-logo-300x231.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":169749,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2015\/11\/saint-maria-goretti-in-texas-and-basics-on-relics\/","url_meta":{"origin":44006,"position":5},"title":"Saint Maria Goretti in Texas and Basics on Relics","author":"Crist\u00f3bal Almanza Herrera","date":"November 4, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Texas has been blessed to get a unique saintly visitor this week. The Pilgrimage of Mercy has been traveling the country in preparation for the Jubilee of Mercy, and the bones of St Maria Goretti are traveling for the faithful to venerate and ask for her intercession. I went to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith"","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/faith-blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"MariaGoretti-Relic","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/MariaGoretti-Relic-550x237.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/MariaGoretti-Relic-550x237.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/MariaGoretti-Relic-550x237.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44006","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44006"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44006\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}