Chair of St. Peter

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter. The story is recorded in Matthew 16:13-19. I use to fancy that Jesus needed to identify the future leader of the believers' community. Among the twelve, Matthew seemed to be the most learned. Judas was not too bad. He was assigned to handle financial matters of this in-group. James and John were too hot-tempered. One Simon was a 'terrorist', a Zealot. Had Simon led this in-group, they would very likely have become another group of guerilla warriors to drive away the Romans. In the Gospel of John, Philip had been given quite a lot of appearances. He seemed to have good relations with the Greeks. Simon the fisherman was enthusiastic but he was not educated. As for the rest, we know very little about them.
Then, in Caesarea-Philippi, Jesus put forth a sort of opinion poll and asked the twelve what the general public thought about him. Most people thought him a prophet and even John the Baptist came back to life. Then Jesus asked the most crucial question. What did this in-group think about him? (Matthew 16:15)  It was Simon the fisherman who gave the correct answer: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). Now, Jesus knew who the future leader would be. Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven (Matthew 16:17). Then Simon was given a new name Peter, the Rock on which Jesus would build his church etc (Matthew 16:18-19).
From this has grown various doctrines / dogmas. E.g. the Pope is the successor of St. Peter, while other bishops are the successors of the remaining apostles and the infallibility of the Pope etc. Of course, no Christians of Protestant strains or the Orthodox strain would like it. As for us Roman Catholics, we will hold on to the Creed which says that "We believe in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church." We are proud of being able to trace our 'genealogy' all the way back to the apostles.
Many will find the possibility of abuse of authority (by the Roman Pontiff) unacceptable. Jesus said,
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:19).
However, what about the anxiety inherited in the exercise of authority? Authority carries with it responsibilities which weigh down on the authority-bearers with anxiety. I myself am anxiety aversive. So, I stay away from authority and try hard not to take up nor exercise any authority. I don't envy authority figures. Now, how did Peter handle this anxiety?
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you.
Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you (1 Peter 5:6-7). I think Peter exercised his authority with humility (what a contradiction!) before God. He threw all anxieties to Him. God will take care of them. In the Acts of the Apostles, we are able to see many instances in which Peter invoked the authority of God to defend his position (Acts 4:19; 5:4, 29; 10:34; 11:17; 15:10). Either he was very tactful, or he understood very well that as a fisherman, he had no authority nor any power base of his own. Recourse to God seemed to be his only option.

My God, I praise Your faithfulness. Salvation solely comes from You. You have the entire universe at Your service. Be with me always. I know You do. Coach me like a naive boy. Cleanse me of my impurities so that I may be filled with Your sweetness. I ask this, through Jesus Your Son, one God, forever and ever. Amen.