Aug 27, 2023 English

There is a painting by El Greco in the fabulous city of Toledo, Spain, which is called “The Tears of St. Peter.”  It is a poignant portrait of Peter, holding the keys in his hands, looking up to heaven, while tears welling up in his eyes.  The tears are so translucent, and so are his eyes.  When I had an opportunity to gaze upon the painting for a while, my eyes were filled with tears.

After confessing that his master is the Son of the living God, Jesus declares to him: “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church….  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.”   An awesome authority over the access to the kingdom of heaven is personally handed to Peter by the Lord.
 
We know an enthusiastic Peter who promptly abandoned his nets, his livelihood, to follow Jesus; we know a wavering Peter who almost drowned in the stormy water; we know a resolute Peter who was prepared to die with his master, yet a terrified Peter soon to deny him three times. We also know a repentant Peter who shed bitter tears, running away from his beloved but now crucified master. We know a tender Peter whose love was tested and confirmed three times.
 
Speaking of love, he truly and dearly loved his master more than anyone else.  He may lack calm restraint, intellectual prowess, or political savvy as the head of the Twelve, but the one thing he had for sure was his unflinching and unparalleled love for the Lord.
 
Jesus wants and wills to lean on this frail and fallible but warm and amiable person.  This is a concrete proof that the source of authority and wisdom is from above.  The Son of the Living God entrusts his work of salvation to this humble human being.  Yet, this person is never alone. The risen Christ always accompanies him through his Holy Spirit.  Upon this person of Peter, the Rock or Rocky, Jesus builds his Church. Yet, our Church is never a Church of Peter, but that of the risen Christ, sustained by the Spirit, journeying to the Father.
 
As Jesus relied on this frail human person, he depends on his successors and all his followers to continue his work of building the kingdom of God here and now. That means that he entrusts all of us with a mission. He gives each of us a special key to unlock the door to the kingdom of God to others: a key to unfold the tender mercy of God; a key to unlock the way to reconciliation between husband and wife and forgiveness between parents and children, a key to turn on warmth on frozen hearts, and a key to bring hope to our desperate neighbors.  Our Lord entrusts a key to each one of us in our own unique way:  our Holy Father as the minister of unity for the whole church; our bishops as successors of the apostles in their local churches and dioceses. As they have been entrusted with the keys to the kingdom in their special ways, so are we entrusted in our unique way to unique missions and responsibilities as stewards of the gifts and blessings of the Lord.  Fully aware of our idiosyncrasies and foibles, our loving God still entrusts us with the keys to the kingdom. Knowing this remarkable commission and being able to use the keys properly is the key to happiness and meaning in life.
 
On the Rock of St. Peter and his faith, Jesus builds his church.  We are the church; we are to represent, embody and actualize the living presence of Christ in the world today. An awesome challenge, but with God all things are possible.  

I saw a bumper sticker, which said: “The Lord is coming; look busy!” Well, let’s get busy too.  The daring God of Jesus Christ is the One who creates us and calls us to be co-workers of His Son.  Knowing and living that call is the key to life, isn’t it?
 
Fr. Paul D. Lee