The 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time (A) gives us the role of Peter once more. We have described how this Petrine ministry comes to us in the gospels in an article earlier posted for the Feast of Peter and Paul. For this particular Sunday, we are offered a picture of Peter that receives a particular kind of light from the narrative we read two Sundays ago. There, Peter appears as the representative of a community that is under pressure. Today then, we see him as a leader whose faith has been divinely blessed with the knowledge of who Christ is. And it is because of this faith that he is given the power of the keys. For a backgrounder to the "power of the keys", read this article on Isaiah 22:15-25. For the ways in which the Fathersof the Church have understood the role of Peter, read the article "You Are Rock...".
Questions for Reflection
21st Sunday OT A: The Office of Peter, the Rock
