21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Peter and the Petrine Ministry Today
The readings for this week can be found here.
There is much we can learn from Peter, and it is important that we interpret today’s gospel in light of the ‘big picture’ of Matthew’s narrative, which portrays the early followers of Jesus as what one scholar calls an “egalitarian brotherhood with the living, present Christ at its head.” (See Nau, 146). This is in no way to diminish the praise Peter receives from Jesus, who describes Peter as the “rock” (v. 18) with the “keys” (v. 19) to the kingdom. But one thing to note right away is that these verses are unique to Matthew’s storytelling. Matthew’s version of this encounter expands on Mark’s (Mark 8:27-30) and Luke’s (Luke 9:18-21). What Matthew adds in three verses (v. 17-19) has been the subject of many debates in Christian history. Catechesis in the Roman Catholic tradition tends to see in these verses the establishment of a Petrine office and a focus on papal authority and apostolic succession, which has understandably led to complex debates about authority and disunity with Protestant believers. These verses have also led to considerable debate within the Roman Catholic Church, debates that are ongoing, especially in synodal conversations about women’s full participation and whether these verses credibly limit ordination (as understood today) to men. Both are important threads to pull on, as ecumenism and feminism raise important questions for all Christians, but these are not my focus today. Instead, I find myself reflecting on Peter’s discipleship and what it might mean in my life.
Three aspects of Peter’s witness inspire me today. First, Peter’s legacy inspires me to speak up when I have questions and to be comfortable expressing doubt or uncertainty if something seems wrong. Arlo Nau describes Peter as “irrepressibly vocal,” which is another way of saying he is a loud mouth. In Matthew’s gospel, Peter appears frequently as a spokesperson for the disciples and is shown as a natural leader. Notable quotables from Matthew:
“But Peter said to him, ‘explain this parable to us.’” (15:15)
“The collectors came to Peter and said, ‘Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?’” (17:24)
“Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” (18:21)
“Then Peter said in reply, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” (19:27)
“Peter said to him, ‘Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.’” (26:33)
Peter wants to understand, presses his teacher, and is not always right. Often Peter thinks that he understands something, only to vocalize his claim and receive fraternal correction. But he and his fellow believers (and Matthew’s readers, who also have questions) come to a deeper understanding because of the questions Peter is willing to ask. We, too, will need to keep asking questions and name our doubts in order to more fully understand what is asked of us. I do not, then, interpret this gospel to mean that Catholics should blindly follow the Catechism or papal teaching. Instead, we must wrestle with it, ask good questions, and trust that our honest questions will be welcomed and valued, even if it turns out that we are the ones in need of correction.
Second, Peter shows us what Ted Lasso means when he tells his players to “be a goldfish.” Coach Lasso means that after you acknowledge your mistakes, you have to move on so you can focus your energy on the next play. The same Peter who is given the “keys” in today’s gospel is the one who can’t stay awake in the garden, denies being a follower of Jesus three times, and is found weeping bitterly at the end of chapter 26. Peter makes mistakes. Peter experiences profound regret. We actually don’t see Peter named or speak in any of the remaining scenes of Matthew’s gospel (though we assume he is with the group of eleven who receive the great commissioning in chapter 28). Where did that curious student go? He was learning how to forgive himself and move on. In Acts of the Apostles, we see that Peter’s leadership is transformative of the early Jesus movement. Perhaps, like Peter, we took risks that didn’t work out. Perhaps we made mistakes and need to repent and repair. Peter’s legacy for Christians today is one of hope after failure. What would it take for you to be able to move on after an acknowledged error? Bring that to prayer this week.
Finally, let’s think about the symbol of the keys. New renters or homeowners know the feeling of exhilaration that can come from holding one’s first set of house keys. A key signifies that you belong in that place, and you take responsibility (sometimes alone and sometimes with others) for maintaining it. Or, to quote from the Spider-Man franchise, “with great power comes great responsibility.” Pope Leo XIV, in his homily on the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul explains:
“A key does not break down doors; rather, it opens and closes them by finding the proper levers within and guiding their movements, so that locks may release, bolts withdraw, and doors turn freely on their hinges, thereby joining rooms together and transforming many isolated spaces into one welcoming home. In the same way, communion within the Church is not built by clinging rigidly to one’s own position, but by seeking, in all hearts, points of encounter in the Truth, in whose light alone each person becomes a means of growth for another.”
Understood in this way, Peter’s ministry is a ministry of releasing locks with the keys that his wise teacher gave him: keys of curiosity, wisdom, passion for justice, friendship, compassion, leadership, and love.
Questions for Personal Reflection
How do I engage authority figures?
What questions come up for me as I reflect on Peter as a model of asking good questions?
What personal failures are weighing me down? What would it take to forgive myself and move on?
What doors am I tempted to break down forcefully, when a key will unlock them nonviolently?
Sources for Further Reading
Raymond Brown, Karl Donfried and John Reumann, eds., Peter in the New Testament: A Collaborative Assessment by Protestant and Roman Catholic Scholars (Paulist, 1973).
Arlo J. Nau, Peter in Matthew: Discipleship, Diplomacy, and Dispraise (Liturgical, 1992).
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