The Barque of Peter--along with a thirteen-boat flotilla--made port in Sydney Harbor Thursday and the Successor of Peter was met, as expected, to youthful cries of jubilation, the familiar papal soccer-chant ("Benedetto! Viva il Papa!"), and even a colorful Aboriginal honor guard. There is no question; Pope Benedict XVI knows how to arrive in style. But this maritime mode of transportation is more than mere theatrics.
Arrival by boat underscores well--as I am sure is the Holy Father's intention--the origins of the Petrine ministry, and it's various implications. Of His many disciples, our Lord chooses Peter, the fisherman, to be the Prince of Apostles and Head of His Church on earth. Peter, who denied the possibility of His Passion, Peter whom our Lord himself called "Satan" (Matthew 16: 22, 23), Peter who denied even knowing Him (Matthew 16: 69-75). A final observation completes our picture of this first and least of Apostles: the relics that presently reside beneath the high altar of the Vatican Basilica indicate that Peter was a large man. So that's it: A big dumb guy named Pete is chosen as the "Rock" upon which our Lord would build His Church, against whom the gates of hell would not prevail (Mathew 16:18).
What are we to make of this startling fact? I would assert that the Lord chooses the least of people--children, house-wives, blue-collar workers, government drones, wacked-out revolutionaries and ex-whores--even shy professorial types--to build His kingdom on earth. (Where on earth did this Man learn administration skills?) The import for World Youth Day is that youth can and should aspire to holiness, no matter what their particular walk of life, because "it was not you who chose me, but I chose you" (John 15:16). This "choosing" makes all the difference in the world. As a wise priest once said, "God does not ask that we be worthy; He only asks that we be willing." And the Spirit will give us the necessary gifts (charisms): "I will ask the Father, and he will send you another Advocate... the Spirit of truth" and "he will guide you" (John 14:16, 17, 16:13).
Of course, the Holy Father said this far more eloquently than I ever could:
Almost two thousand years ago, the Apostles, gathered in the upper room together with Mary and some faithful women, were filled with the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:14; 2:4). At that extraordinary moment, which gave birth to the Church, the confusion and fear that had gripped Christ’s disciples were transformed into a vigorous conviction and sense of purpose. They felt impelled to speak of their encounter with the risen Jesus whom they had come to call affectionately, the Lord. In many ways, the Apostles were ordinary. None could claim to be the perfect disciple. They failed to recognize Christ (cf. Lk 24:13-32), felt ashamed of their own ambition (cf. Lk 22:24-27), and had even denied him (cf. Lk 22:54-62). Yet, when empowered by the Holy Spirit, they were transfixed by the truth of Christ’s Gospel and inspired to proclaim it fearlessly. Emboldened, they exclaimed: repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 2:37-38)! (Festival of Welcome Address)
This is our Christian faith! Our risen Lord has revealed Himself to us, we who are poor sinners, and calls us to repentance and baptism; He pours His Spirit upon us, the Spirit that drives out fear and empowers us to proclaim the Gospel!
In His peace.
Coming soon... "Babel, Cenacle... Ranwick".
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