I
have to tell you that 51 years plus a couple of months ago when I was
ordained to the priesthood at this very altar, I never in my wildest
dreams would have imagined a moment like this!
But I think it’s also safe to say that
Simon Peter, the Galilean fisherman, would never have imagined a place
like this! Can you think of any greater contrast between Peter the
fisherman - salty in smell and probably salty in language - and this
magnificent renaissance masterpiece of a basilica. I can’t!
Of course, St. Peter’s basilica wasn’t
always this way. For its first 1200 years or so, St. Peter’s was
considerably more modest: a rather simple building in the Roman basilica
style built by the Emperor Constantine over the tomb of the Apostle.
Think fourth century. It lasted, as I said, for about 1200 years.
When we were renovating our own Cathedral
in Seattle in the middle 1990’s, I remember getting brickbats thrown at
me from here and there – various kinds of outrage expressed that we
would think to do anything to alter what many thought was a perfectly
beautiful Cathedral. (I always thought of it as more impressive
than beautiful!). The best response I had for those folks was to
talk about this place and how, in the 16th century they tore it down,
stone by stone, and built this! All we were doing was renovating!
I also remember telling people who thought our plan to move the altar of
St. James from the east apse to the center of the building, that it was
really no more radical than St. Peter’s Basilica which has its main
altar in the middle, under a dome, with people on all four sides. The
argument seemed to work. But enough reminiscing!
The only problem with the magnificence of
this basilica is that it could cause us to forget about why it’s here
and who it’s named for. It is here because, in the first century
of the Christian era, St. Peter the apostle was put to death on this
Vatican hill and buried in a nearby cemetery, a cemetery that still
exists in the bowels of the earth beneath this great church.
That’s why it’s here. This hill was made holy by the blood of St.
Peter. And then, of course, we must remember who St. Peter was.
He’s the same Peter whose great confession of faith was captured in that
passage from Matthew’s gospel we just heard; the same Peter who made his
bold confession not because flesh and blood revealed it to him, but the
heavenly Father. And, yes, the fisherman named Simon whose name
Jesus changed to Peter, Rock. The Rock who was sometimes a rock
but not always a rock.
St. Peter is someone we can all relate to,
I think. The gospels portray him as lovable, loyal (except when he
wasn’t), impetuous, impulsive, hot-headed, and penitent.
The Acts of
the Apostles portray him as courageous, spirit-filled, strong-willed,
but capable of changing, learning from his mistakes. Maybe in that
list of adjectives we can find one – or more – that fits us. I think
it’s no wonder at all that we relate to St. Peter so warmly. He is
one of us. Those adjectives are our adjectives.
And isn’t it wonderful that Jesus would
have chosen to entrust great things – even the greatest things - to
someone like us! For me, St. Peter will ever be ‘exhibit A’ for the
power of God’s grace working through human weakness – convincing proof
that God can work wonders even through the most flawed and imperfect of
people.
My friends, St. Peter is my patron and he’s
your patron. As we gather in this amazing temple that bears his
name, I hope we feel a closeness to him. As we look up and see
those gospel words that tell Peter’s story in both Latin and Greek, I
hope we find ways to translate those words into our language, our lives.
And I hope that we take away from this place, and this celebration, a
renewed love for the Church, for St. Peter, and for Pope Francis who
sits in his chair. And may we also take away a renewed commitment
to live our faith courageously as Peter lived his and, if and when we
fail to, that we pick ourselves up as Peter did, and keep walking the
road, step by step, following the Master!
Father Michael G. Ryan
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