Fr Alex Swain

Beloved in Christ,

The Feast of the Confession of St. Peter (January 18) is transferred, and thus celebrated, to today. This Feast celebrates Simon’s confession, “You are the Christ!” to which Jesus responds, “You are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church.”

Lesser Feasts & Fasts describes Peter as “often stumbling, impetuous, intense, and uncouth.” He is a fallen and sinful man with profound faith, a zealous heart for God, and a life dedicated to the Gospel. He shaped the church; indeed, Christ builds his church on this person, even as we bear witness to his many imperfections in the Gospel.

Because he is, at the end of the day, a person like you and like me.

Fallen. Faithful. Striving. (Also, busy!)

But it is the example of his profound faith which so lifts my heart.

Today is a day when we can rejoice in the faith and witness of St. Peter and strive to seek Christ as ardently as Peter did. It is a reminder that we need not be perfect—nor anywhere near perfect—for Jesus Christ to shape, move, use us for good.

God calls us to perseverance not perfection, and the life and witness of St. Peter is a profound example of this lifestyle.

In a week, we will observe the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. Since 1908, the week between these feasts “has been observed ecumenically as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.” (Lesser Feasts & Fasts).

During this week, may we look around with fresh eyes and see the vast and varied Body of Christ made up of many different faith traditions and expressions. Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox. Low church and high church Anglicans. Pentecostals speaking in tongues and the magisterial worship at St. Peter’s in the Vatican.

All of this and more encompasses the vast body of Christ which is made up of many members. 

May we pray, over the next week, for Christian unity, and strive to cultivate the zeal and joy and faith which St. peter consistently demonstrated throughout his life and witness to Jesus Christ.

Yours in Christ,

—Fr Alex