Tuesday, February 22, 2022

 Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, apostle

 (I Peter 5:1-4; Matthew 16:13-19)

 It was reported that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger carried in his wallet a card authorizing organ transplants.  But when he became pope, the authorization was annulled.  The reason was not that the pope’s organs are sacred or useless.  Rather, it was that a pope’s body is no longer his own to dispose of.  It belongs to the Church.  This sacrifice of disposition of body organs is small in comparison with the others that modern popes make.  The reading from the First Letter of Peter today gives some indication of other denials of self a pope is called to make.

The reading underscores the pope’s need of humility.  It expressly says that he (really any priest) is not to lord it over the faithful.  Such behavior would give counter-testimony to Christ who humbled himself by dying on the cross.  Nor are popes and other priests to seek favors for their work.  Such actions would undermine their credibility.  More positively, they are to eagerly look after and encourage the faithful.  Only joyful care will win hearts to Christ.  The Vicar of Christ, for whom no retirement age is set, will necessarily wear himself out under such responsibilities.  His consolation, of course, is eternal glory upon the Lord’s return.

 All of us should take to heart Peter’s advice to priests.  We never stand so tall as when we bend down to help a poor or weak neighbor.  Seeking special favors for our work would corrupt justice.  It sends a message that we want for ourselves more than is ours by right.