Peter's Office 教宗的职务
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In this Sunday's Gospel, Peter's confession of faith happens right before he receives from Jesus the office of visible chief shepherd, with responsibility for preserving the faith and serving ecclesial unity. We invite you to read Fr. Joseph's latest bilingual Scripture reflection, included below in Chinese and then in English:
Scripture Reflection in Chinese
常年期第二十一主日 甲年
今天的福音把一个无法回避的问题放在我们面前：“你们说我是谁？”群众认为耶稣是洗者若翰、厄里亚、耶肋米亚或先知中的一位。他们尊敬耶稣，却尚未认识他的真正身份。伯多禄代表宗徒宣认：“你是默西亚，永生天主之子。”耶稣随即指出，这项认识来自天父的启示：“这不是血肉之人启示了你，而是我在天之父启示你的。”这里引用的是福音原文所使用的对比句；它说明基督信仰发源于天主的启示，人则以信德接受启示。伯多禄所宣认的耶稣超越所有先知，因为他是天父所派遣的默西亚，也是与父同性同体的永生天主之子（玛16:13-17；玛3:16-17；若1:1-18）。
伯多禄宣认耶稣的身份以后，耶稣也向他揭示其使命：“你是伯多禄，我要在这磐石上建立我的教会，阴间的势力决不能战胜她。”教会属于基督，因为耶稣称她为“我的教会”。基督永远是教会最高、不可取代的元首；伯多禄从基督领受可见的首牧职务，负责保护信仰、坚固弟兄并维护教会合一。历代教宗继承伯多禄的职务，担任基督在世教会的代表及可见领袖。教宗的权威完全来自基督，也必须服务基督的福音和羊群（玛16:18；弗1:22-23；哥1:18；路22:31-32；若21:15-17）。
读经一为“天国的钥匙”提供了重要的解释。舍布纳原任王宫总管，后来因失职而被撤换。上主召叫厄里雅金，把达味家室的钥匙放在他肩上：“他开了，没有人能关；他关了，没有人能开。”厄里雅金获得管理王室的权力，在君王的授权下处理达味家室的事务（依22:19-23）。耶稣采用同样的圣经图像，对伯多禄说：“我要把天国的钥匙交给你。”耶稣是达味之子和天国的君王，伯多禄则被委任管理基督在世的家——教会。钥匙象征真实的职权，包括教导、圣化、治理和保护共融。伯多禄的职权由基督亲自设立，其效力取决于基督的许诺（玛16:19；路1:32-33；弟前3:15）。
“你在地上所束缚的，在天上也要被束缚；你在地上所释放的，在天上也要被释放”，进一步说明这项职务所具有的管辖权。“束缚”和“释放”在当时包含对信仰、伦理、纪律及团体生活作出具有约束力的判断。耶稣后来也把共同牧养教会的责任交给宗徒团（玛18:18），同时保留了伯多禄独有的标记：磐石、天国的钥匙，以及坚固弟兄的使命（玛16:18-19；路22:31-32）。伯多禄的首牧权与宗徒团的权力彼此配合。因此，教宗在与众主教的共融中领导普世教会；众主教则在与伯多禄继承人的共融中牧养地方教会。
伯多禄具有人的软弱。他曾经抗拒耶稣关于苦难的预言，也曾三次否认主（玛16:21-23；玛26:69-75）。复活的基督仍然把整个羊群托付给他：“你牧放我的羔羊；你牧放我的羊群。”三次委托医治了他的三次背叛，也公开确认了他的首牧使命（若21:15-17）。教宗职务的稳固性建立在基督的召叫、祈祷和许诺上。耶稣曾特别为伯多禄祈祷，使他的信德不致丧失，并命令他在回头以后坚固弟兄（路22:31-32）。所以，教宗的权威包含沉重的服务责任：忠实传授宗徒信仰，保护圣事生活，纠正错误，医治分裂，引导天主子民走向救恩。
这个职务必须延续，因为基督所建立的教会要持续到世界终结。耶稣许诺阴间的势力不能战胜教会，也保证自己天天与宗徒同在，直到今世的终结（玛16:18；玛28:18-20）。《宗徒大事录》记载，犹达斯死后，伯多禄引用圣经说：“让别人接替他的职位。”宗徒们随后拣选玛弟亚，使他加入十一位宗徒之列（宗1:15-26）。这件事显示宗徒职务能够由继承人继续承担。伯多禄后来在罗马完成宗徒使命；罗马教会保存了他的宗徒座席及其继承次序。因此，罗马主教作为伯多禄的继承人，承担普世教会的最高牧职。圣经启示了伯多禄职务的建立及宗徒职位能够传承的原则；教会从宗徒时代保存下来的传统，则见证这一职务在历代罗马主教身上的连续性（玛16:18-19；宗1:20-26；伯前5:13）。
圣保禄在读经二赞叹天主的智慧：“万物都出于他、依赖他、而归于他。”教会的建立、伯多禄的蒙召以及首牧职务的延续，都出于天主的计划（罗11:33-36）。教会能够经历迫害、分裂、牧者的软弱和时代的变迁而继续存在，显示基督始终忠于自己的许诺。答唱咏因此宣告：“上主，你的慈爱永世无穷，不要放弃你双手的妙工。”教会正是天主双手的工程，需要不断净化，也不断得到天主的保护（咏138:1-3、6、8；弗5:25-27）。
今天，耶稣也问我们：“你们说我是谁？”承认耶稣是默西亚和天主子，要求我们接受他的福音，也接受他所建立的教会。尊敬教宗表达我们对基督安排的服从，因为教宗承担伯多禄的职务，负责坚固弟兄、牧养羊群并维护宗徒信仰的合一。信友也要为教宗和主教祈祷，认真聆听教会的训导，在圣事中生活，并避免破坏教会共融的言行。求主赐给我们伯多禄宣认基督的信德，使我们在伯多禄继承人的带领下，忠于宗徒的教导、擘饼、祈祷和弟兄共融，坚定地宣认：“你是默西亚，永生天主之子。”（玛16:16；宗2:42）
Scripture Reflection in English
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time A
Today’s Gospel places an unavoidable question before every disciple: “Who do you say that I am?” The people identify Jesus with John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or another prophet. Their answers express respect, yet they do not reach the full truth about him. Peter speaks for the apostles: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus explains that this confession comes through the Father’s revelation. Christian faith begins with God making himself known and reaches its proper response when a person receives that revelation in trust and obedience. Peter confesses that Jesus stands above all the prophets: he is the promised Messiah and the eternal Son who reveals the Father (Matthew 16:13–17; Matthew 3:16–17; John 1:1–18).
After Peter identifies Jesus, Jesus reveals Peter’s mission: “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” The words “my Church” establish Christ’s permanent sovereignty. Christ remains the supreme and irreplaceable Head of the Church. Peter receives from Christ the office of visible chief shepherd, with responsibility for preserving the faith and serving ecclesial unity. Each pope succeeds Peter in this pastoral office and serves as the Vicar of Christ and the visible head of the Church on earth. Papal authority comes from Christ and remains accountable to Christ’s revelation and saving mission (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22–23; Colossians 1:18; Luke 22:31–32; John 21:15–17).
The first reading provides the biblical background for the keys. Shebna is removed from his position as master of the palace, and Eliakim receives his robe, sash, authority, and office. God declares: “I will place the key of the House of David on Eliakim’s shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open.” Eliakim exercises authority over the royal household under the authority of the Davidic king (Isaiah 22:19–23). Jesus uses this established biblical image when he says to Peter, “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus is the Son of David and the eternal King. Peter is appointed to exercise stewardship within Christ’s earthly household, the Church. The keys signify an actual office of teaching, sanctifying, governing, and protecting communion (Matthew 16:19; Luke 1:32–33; 1 Timothy 3:15).
Jesus adds: “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Binding and loosing referred to authoritative judgments concerning doctrine, moral conduct, discipline, and membership in the community. Jesus later entrusts the apostolic body with a shared responsibility for governing the Church (Matthew 18:18). Peter still receives three distinctive signs: the rock, the keys, and the command to strengthen his brethren (Matthew 16:18–19; Luke 22:31–32). Peter’s primacy operates within the apostolic college. In the same way, the pope leads the universal Church in communion with the bishops, and the bishops govern their local churches in communion with Peter’s successor.
Peter’s personal history shows the demanding character of this office. He resists Jesus’ teaching about the cross and later denies the Lord three times (Matthew 16:21–23; Matthew 26:69–75). The risen Christ restores him and entrusts the flock to him three times: “Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep” (John 21:15–17). This threefold commission heals Peter’s threefold denial and publicly confirms his pastoral responsibility for Christ’s flock. Earlier, Jesus had prayed especially for Peter, so that his faith would not fail, and commanded him to strengthen his brothers after his return (Luke 22:31–32). The stability of the Petrine office rests on Christ’s call, prayer, and promise. Its authority carries a grave duty to transmit the apostolic faith, guard the sacramental life of the Church, correct serious error, heal division, and guide God’s people toward salvation.
The office entrusted to Peter has to continue because Christ established his Church for every generation. Jesus promises that the gates of the netherworld will never prevail against her and that he will remain with the apostles until the end of the age (Matthew 16:18; Matthew 28:18–20). Acts records the principle of apostolic succession. After the death of Judas, Peter cites Scripture: “May another take his office.” Matthias is then chosen to join the eleven apostles (Acts 1:15–26). An apostolic office can therefore pass to a successor when its holder dies. Peter later completed his apostolic ministry in Rome, whose Church preserved the succession of his apostolic chair. The Bishop of Rome consequently serves as Peter’s successor and exercises the universal pastoral office associated with the keys. Scripture reveals Christ’s establishment of Peter’s office and the principle that an apostolic office continues through succession. The Church’s living apostolic tradition identifies the historical succession of the bishops who occupied Peter’s Roman See (Matthew 16:18–19; Acts 1:20–26; 1 Peter 5:13).
Saint Paul’s praise of divine wisdom helps us understand this mystery: “For from him and through him and for him are all things” (Romans 11:33–36). The founding of the Church, Peter’s calling, and the continuation of his pastoral office belong to God’s providential design. Through persecution, internal division, human weakness, and great cultural change, Christ has preserved the Church he founded. The Responsorial Psalm gives the deepest reason for her endurance: “Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands” (Psalm 138:1–3, 6, 8). The Church is the work of God’s hands. She constantly needs purification, and she constantly receives the sustaining grace of her Lord (Ephesians 5:25–27).
Christ now directs his question to us: “Who do you say that I am?” Confessing Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God includes receiving his Gospel and the Church he founded. Respect for the pope expresses fidelity to Christ’s pastoral arrangement, since Peter’s successor carries the responsibility to strengthen the brethren, shepherd the flock, and protect the unity of apostolic faith. Catholics should pray for the pope and bishops, listen carefully to the Church’s authentic teaching, live faithfully through the sacraments, and reject words and actions that injure ecclesial communion. Through God’s grace, Peter’s confession can become the foundation of our whole life, keeping us faithful to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16; Acts 2:42).
Fr. (Joseph) Guozhang Ruan was born and ordained in China. After serving in parish ministry in the Diocese of Mindong, Fujian, he pursued advanced studies in moral theology in Rome, earning a doctorate from the Pontifical Lateran University. Since coming to the United States in 2004, he has served in several parishes in the Archdiocese of New York. He is currently the Director of the Chinese Apostolate for the Archdiocese of New York and Parochial Vicar of Holy Rosary Church on Staten Island. His ministry focuses on serving Chinese Catholics, promoting evangelization, and fostering greater understanding between the Church in China and the universal Church.
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