DAILY CHEWING STICK FOR TUESDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, 22ND FEBRUARY 2022: FEAST OF CHAIR OF ST. PETER(1Pet 5:1-4; Mtt.16:13-19).
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Good Morning Dearly Beloved in Christ.
How was your night rest? We thank God for another beautiful and bright day.
May He WATCH over us and GUIDE our every steps today and always. Amen.
Brethren, we celebrate today the feast of “CHAIR” of St. Peter.
I wonder what is going on in your mind right now, to know that we even CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF CHAIR…! Smiles, it really sounds funny and I won’t blame you if you are confused. However, WE ARE NOT CELEBRATING THE FEAST OF THE CHAIRS IN YOUR PARLOUR OR OFFICE OR CLASSROOM OR HALL OR ANYWHERE. We are rather celebrating the CHAIR, which means “OFFICE” of Peter.
His pre-eminent POSITION in the Church.
Beloved of God, this brings to mind the kind of RESPECT accorded to “FIRST-BORN CHILD” especially “SONS” (No gender inequality intended please). In Igbo land where I come from, THE FIRST-BORN SON (OPARA/DIOPARA) commands so much respect because HE LEADS HIS SIBLINGS, HE TAKES OVER RESPONSIBILITIES in the absence of his Father. HIS OPINION COUNTS in family matters and so much is expected from him.
He is the first to CHOOSE IN MATTERS OF SELECTION AND SHARING his Father’s inheritance.
My Dear Friends, PETER can equally be regarded as the FIRST-BORN because HE WAS VIRTUALLY THE FIRST IN EVERYTHING.
He was the HEAD OF THE APOSTLES AND THE CHURCH.
HE WAS THE SPOKESMAN(he addressed the crowd on pentecost).
HE PROPOSED A REPLACEMENT FOR JUDAS.
HE TOOK THE DECISIVE STEP OF ADMITTING CORNELIUS AND HIS FAMILY, THE FIRST GENTILES INTO THE CHURCH(Acts 10:1-48). He fulfilled excellently the ROLES OF THE FIRST AND LEADER OF THE CHURCH AND JESUS ENTRUSTED HIS CHURCH INTO HIS CARE: “You are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my Church.”
My Fellow Catholics and Friends of Catholics, do you often wonder why THE HOLY FATHERS (POPES) are respected all over the world, not only by Catholics but by everybody?
IT IS BECAUSE OF THE ROLES PETER PLAYED AS THE FIRST VISIBLE HEAD OF THE CHURCH WHICH THEY TOO HAVE CONTINUED.
Our faith is therefore expressed in the following formulae:
(1) Where Peter is, there is the Church.
(2) Rome has spoken, the case is finished.
(3) A Catholic is a Catholic to the extent that he is in communion with Peter.
(4) Peter has spoken through Leo.
(5) Nothing without Peter.
(6) The Roman Pontiff is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful.
Brethren, ARE YOU A FIRST-BORN SON OR CHILD?
ARE YOU A LEADER IN YOUR HOME OR OFFICE OR SCHOOL OR ANYWHERE?
ARE YOU PROUD OF YOUR POSITION?
ARE YOU FULFILLING THE ROLES OF RESPONSIBILITY ATTACHED TO YOUR OFFICE?
Finally Dearest Friends in Christ, as WE, through the celebration of today RENEW OUR ALLEGIANCE to the HOLY FATHER (the Pope & Successor of Peter), we continue to PRAY for him.
May God bless Our POPE. Amen.
May God bless Our BISHOPS. Amen.
May God bless Our PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS. Amen.
May God bless Our LAITY. Amen.
In the words of MAN’S RESPONSE in our Stations of the Cross Pamphlet(Station One), I conclude thus:
REMOVE THE BLINDERS FROM MY EYES, THAT I MAY SEE THAT IT IS YOU WHOM I OBEY IN ALL WHO GOVERN ME.
LORD, IT IS YOU.
Let us sing this tradition Catholic Hymn in honour of the POPE:
GOD BLESS OUR POPE
(1) Full in the panting heart of Rome,
Beneath th’apostle’s crowning dome,
From pilgrims’ lips that kiss the ground,
Breathes in all tongues only one sound:
Chorus:
‘God bless our Pope, God bless our Pope,
God bless our Pope, the great, the good.’
(2) The golden roof, the marble walls,
The Vatican’s majestic halls,
The note redouble, till it fills
With echoes sweet the seven hills:
(3) Then surging through each hallowed gate,
Where martyrs glory, in peace, await,
It sweeps beyond the solemn plain,
Peals over Alps, across the main:
(4) From torrid south to frozen north,
That wave harmonious stretches forth,
Yet strikes no chord more true to Rome’s,
Than rings within our hearts and homes:
CAN WE PLEASE USE THE PICTURE OF THE HOLY FATHER (POPE) AS OUR DISPLAY PICTURE (DP) OR STATUS FOR TODAY?
Thank you and May God bless us all. Amen.
HAPPY FEAST DAY!!!
Rev. Fr. Francis Uchechukwu Onugha (Fada Kosi Much).
