most biblical scholars do not think that Paul wrote the letter to Titus. The letter betrays a time long after Paul is dead. It is written in Pauline style and contains Pauline ideas, but it presumes a developed church that did not yet exist during Paul’s lifetime. It is best to understand Titus in the letter written to him as any leader of a church near the end of the first century and the beginning of the second century AD facing false teachers. In other words, the letter presents an orderly way of life that can be applied to any follower of Christ dealing with falsehood.
Today’s memorial identifies Titus as a bishop, because in the last verse of the pericope from Paul’s letter to Titus, the apostle tells him to “appoint elders in every town” (1:5). Elders, who ultimately come to be known as priests, are appointed as pastors of parishes by bishops. Thus, Titus is identified as a bishop. In fact, in verses not included in this passage, the author mentions the characteristics (1:7–9) of a good “bishop” (1:7). This structure reflects a church well into the second century.
The words addressed to Titus are, fittingly, addressed to us today. All Christians are responsible for advancing “the faith of God’s elect” (1:1). We do this primarily through the lives we lead. Later in this letter, the author presents detailed instructions for older men, older women, young men, young women, and slaves.
Also, Christians are responsible for advancing “knowledge of the truth” (1:1). We know this as adult education. We live in a time when many Catholics don’t know the basics of their faith. Thus, the study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Bible, the sacraments, and other Church documents is essential for understanding our “hope of eternal life that God, who never lies, promised before the ages began” (1:2).
As the author of the letter mentions, this is “the faith we share” (1:4). It is not a personal faith, though belief begins with each individual person. The Church is one, holy, universal, and apostolic. Every Sunday we express that common faith in the Profession of Faith, also known as the Nicene Creed. Without adult education, it is easy for an individual me-and-Jesus attitude to develop instead of a community all-of-us-and-Jesus understanding. Celebrating the memorial of Sts. Timothy and Titus gives all of us the occasion to examine our growth in advancing our faith through our understanding of it.
Meditation: In what specific ways do you live and learn about our common faith?
Prayer: Ever-living God, you never leave your Church unattended, but appoint for her leaders who will guide your people in the one common faith and teach them knowledge of the truth. Raise bishops and priests to serve your Church in faithfulness. Give them the courage to proclaim the revelation of your Word, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
February 22: Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, Apostle
Peter’s Successor
1 Peter 5:1–4
Scripture: “. . . [W]hen the chief shepherd appears, you [, elders,] will win the crown of glory that never fades away” (1 Pet 5:4).
Reflection: The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter has nothing to do with a physical chair. The name of the feast refers to the authority of the man who sits in Peter’s chair to teach, sanctify, and govern the Church: the pope, the bishop of Rome, the successor of Peter. The passage from the first letter of Peter is chosen for this feast because it portrays the writer of the letter exhorting “the elders . . . to tend the flock of God that is in [their] charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have [them] do it—not for sordid gain but eagerly” (5:2). Elders, who ultimately come to be known as bishops in the Church, are told not to lord their authority over those in their charge, but to be “examples to the flock” (5:3).
Today’s passage from the first letter of Peter contains the household duties of elders or local Church leaders at the end of the first century or the beginning of the second century AD. Lists of household duties are common in documents written at this time. The anonymous author writes in the name of “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ” (1:1), who claims authority to write the letter as “a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed” (5:1).
In the Catholic Church, the pope as Peter’s successor serves as head of the universal Church. The bishops, successors of the apostles, are united under the primacy of the pope in order to tend the faithful who have been placed in their care. Teaching or preaching the gospel and maintaining its truth is the primary way the pope and bishops keep the Church united in matters of faith and morals. This teaching role is exercised in ecumenical councils, synods, and pastoral letters.
Both through the bishops of the Church and directly, the pope exercises his sanctifying office. Through prayer and sacraments, the faithful are built into greater unity. This occurs on a parish level under the leadership of priests and deacons and on a diocesan level under the leadership of the local bishop.
And the pope, directly and through the bishops, exercises his governing office through councils, exhortations, and example. This occurs on a parish level under the leadership of the pastor in consultation with a parish council and a finance council. On a diocesan level, the bishop’s governing takes place after consultation with a diocesan pastoral council, a presbyteral council, staff meetings, etc. When the chief shepherd, Christ, appears, all hope to win the crown of glory that never fades away.
In a time when the slogan is “No one is going to tell me what to do,” the exercise of the papal offices of teaching, sanctifying, and governing are severely criticized because the pope calls Catholics to be different, to stand for religious values. When the secular world gives its assent to a man and woman living together before marriage, the Church, under the leadership of the pope and bishops, calls Catholic couples to abstinence before marriage. When others see no moral problem creating life outside the womb, the Catholic Church witnesses to the natural means of conception. The pope and bishops teach the sacredness of life, as secular culture advocates euthanasia.
The chief shepherd, Christ, is the model the pope strives to emulate. Christ has promised divine assistance to the man who sits in Peter’s chair. That gives Catholics a sense of security that they are being taught the truth, that they are being made holy, and that they are being governed by Christ in the person of the pope.
Meditation: In what specific ways have you experienced the teaching, sanctifying, and governing office of the pope either directly or through your local bishop or pastor?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you bestow the gift of the Holy Spirit upon your Church to assist her leaders in teaching, sanctifying, and governing your people. Guide the vicar of Christ on earth, the pope, with this same Spirit that when the chief shepherd appears, all your people will win the crown of glory that never fades away. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Rock
Matthew 16:13–19
Scripture: [Jesus said to Simon Peter:] “. . . [Y]ou are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it” (Matt 16:18).
Reflection: When hearing the title of today’s feast, the Chair of St. Peter, most people think of a physical chair instead of the authority that the title of the feast indicates. Basically, this is a feast that celebrates the leadership and authority of the papacy. As the successor of Peter, the pope presides over the Church in unity.
The gospel chosen for this feast from Matthew comes from two sources. First, Mark’s Gospel is the source for the narrative in the district of Caesarea Philippi. Matthew has changed a number of details to prepare for his additions to the story. Second, Matthew, written around 80 AD, presents what biblical scholars call unique Petrine material, that is, stories that feature Peter that are not found in any other gospel.
Unique Petrine material was created by Matthew or gathered from a source to which he had access in order to re-create the character of Peter found in Mark’s Gospel. Peter is characterized as a fool in Mark. Matthew chooses to present him as a leader. So, to Mark’s account of Jesus’ questioning his