Homily Aug 23rd

Post date: Aug 25, 2020 4:30:17 AM

August 23, 2020 Homily by Fr. Karl Schray

Fr. Herbert Driscoll uses a wonderful image to explain the structure of the Church. His idea is to look at all the last 20 centuries as rings of time or as concentric circles of time. Today’s Christians are in the outermost circle—farthest from the center—which is a cross. We are brought into the circle, into the Faith, in large part because someone in the circle before us took us by the hand and said ‘Come’. And that person was able to do this because someone had drawn that person in—all the way back until we reach the hands that touched the mark of the nails. In this way, Christ builds His Church.

When we say, ‘You are the Christ’, He says to each of us: You too are Peter and with you, also, I am building my church.

It is evident that living up to what Jesus Christ stands for cannot be done alone. We need one another’s inspiration and encouragement.

Our Lord’s intention is that we live in faith-sharing groups and congregations.

Consequently, wherever one establishes a group, one needs organization and

rules as an alternative to chaos. Hence, authority becomes a necessity. And authority in the Catholic tradition and seen as brotherly service, is invested in our bishops and their head, the Bishop of Rome who holds the office of Peter, also called the Petrine Office. This is what we have traditionally called “the Papacy”.

The first Reading from Isaiah gives a detailed description of the investiture of a royal court official. The robe, the sash and the keys are the insignias of this office.

In the Gospel, Peter’s new position is not a purely personal attainment. The keys suggest that he will be the new prime minister. He will be the ‘rock’- the stability for the Church. The keys represent the authority for teaching and governing.

Christ, the invisible Head of the Church makes Peter (and his successors)

the visible Head of the Church—the vicar or deputy of Christ on earth.

With great affection and respect, we call him Pope or Holy Father.

That’s thanks to the Italians who call him Il Papa.