22 Feb – Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, the Apostle
The feast of the Chair of St. Peter at Rome, Italy has been celebrated from the early days of the Christian era on Jan 18, in commemoration of the day when St. Peter held his first service in Rome. The feast of the Chair of St. Peter at Antioch commemorating his foundation of the See of Antioch, has also been long celebrated at Rome on Feb 22. At each place, a chair (cathedra) which the Apostle had used while presiding at Mass was venerated.
- Patron Saint Index
This feast has been kept in Rome since the fourth century, as a symbol of the unity of the Church.
- The Weekday Missal
1 Pet 5:1-4
Mt 16:13–19
…be an example that the whole flock can follow.
Last year, after 14 years growing and leading a team of dedicated communications professionals, I relinquished my role as head of division. Over the years, I had intentionally and mindfully tried to be the leader of a ‘flock’ that evolved and grew.
…and with you I have a share in the glory that is to be revealed.
At the end of 2023, I attended a silent retreat held in the hills of Cebu in the Philippines. There, I was given two verses one morning by my spiritual director/guide. He encouraged me to use all of my five senses to contemplate on John 21 (Jesus calls his disciples to have a meal on shore) and Luke 24 (the two men on the road to Emmaus) throughout the day and to then see what would be revealed during the nightly adoration session.
That evening, when the blessed sacrament was exposed and I contemplated being on the boat alongside the disciples who were busy trying to catch fish, I caught a whiff of grilled fish. Just for a second…then it went away. When I shared this with my SD the next morning, he said it was Jesus’ way of confirming me as His friend. “Now that He has revealed himself again to you, learn to consult with Him as a close friend the next time you are going through something.”
Since then, I not only had to manage a transition at work, but also managed a house move with my elderly mum and uncle, after we sold the family home in which we had been living for the last 40 years. Admittedly, it was a massive logistics exercise — not just physically, but mentally as well. And throughout the few months that I was planning and liaising with all parties (we moved into the new place end of last year), I had to surrender all my emotions to Jesus and trust that he would have my back in all the dealings…especially in having to manage my ‘fiercely independent’ mum and her idiosyncrasies in terms of what she wanted to keep and what she was willing to shed/discard.
Add to that the various responsibilities I took on in ministry — serving at retreats and some overnight vigils – I truly thank God for His faithfulness and guiding hand. Earlier this month, I had to pop by the old house to sort out the faulty autogate before we handed it over to the new owners and I spent a few minutes taking pictures from the road. It was a quiet time of reflection where I looked back on some of the memories stored in ‘Gardenia’ and I silently thanked Him for bringing me through my teenage years to my 50s, in a home which dad and mum built so painstakingly. I know the sacrifices they had to make because during our move, I found a box of old documents with correspondences between the builder, various government agencies and the bank which granted them the loan to purchase it.
Brothers and sisters, change, in whatever form, is never easy. Especially for those who have spent decades believing that their way has been the ‘best for everyone’. Today, as my mum and uncle settle in to new surroundings and adjust to a different living space, I ask for your prayers so that I can continue to support them in their final years, yet provide some guidance and wisdom as they navigate this new way of living. I pray too, for all of those who are undergoing transitions in their lives, that they can open their hearts to allow Jesus in, so that He can be their beacon in a time of turmoil.
St Peter never had any training to become who he eventually did. All he had was love for Jesus, and a faith that was rooted in a special bond which Jesus formed with His disciples. Brothers and sisters, that bond is not reserved only for those who are ordained or who hold office. Jesus wants to be our BFF. Are we willing to open our hearts and be his BFF?
(Today’s OXYGEN by Desmond Soon)
Prayer: Lord, we seek you in all our daily encounters and sometimes are blinded by our sins, our doubts, our fears and our anxieties. Help us to see you Lord, present in our lives, our workplaces, our schools, our offices, in church and in the confessional. Help us to unburden ourselves and to take all that troubles us to you in faith; because all you want is for us to desire to be your friend.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Lord, for cherishing us, no matter how broken we are. We give thanks for the gift of faith and for your unceasing love for each and every one of us.
OXYGEN 
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