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19th Sunday in Ordinary Mt 14/22-23 |
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| Background:
The story of Peter’s loss of nerve is clearly part of the very powerful
demythologization of Peter. It was widely known among his contemporaries that Peter
was the boss, the one in charge, the one to whom others looked for strength and direction.
However, Peter was not the Master, but only a poor substitute for him. Perhaps, like all
humans he needed to be reminded of his human limitations, whether he wanted it or not. So
it is with all the many and varied successors to the throne of the fisherman. No matter
how brilliant, no matter how holy, no matter how close to God, they are not Jesus but only
his human representatives. We honor them and revere them, but we do not worship them and
do not confuse them with God or Jesus. The same for all church leaders, even Cardinals. |
read the padre |
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Story: One time a very important Cardinal and
his aged auxiliary bishop were visiting a town in the West of Ireland. They left their
cards at the house of the local bishop out of respect. Within the hour they were invited
over for high tea (supper to you yanks). You gotta watch these fellas, said the Cardinal
to his helper. Some of them think they’re His Holiness in their own diocese.
Well, a drop was served before tea and they adjourned to the dining room. The local
man took charge of the conversation from the very beginning and dominated it. All
discussion flowed to him and out from him. No one was given a chance to talk to anyone
else. The poor Cardinal, who was used himself to having a few words to say over the supper
table was treated with the same reverential respect paid to the lowest curate at the far
end of the table – which is to say none at all. The auxiliary turned off his hearing
aid. The food incidentally was terrible. Finally at the end, after the last stale sweet,
the visitors from the table. Their host thanked them for dropping in. The old auxiliary,
hearing aid still turned off, said at the top of his voice, “You were wrong Cardinal.
He doesn’t think he’s Pope. He figures he’s a lot higher than that.”
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