September 16, 2018 – Twenty-fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time

At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. (Mark 8:27-35)

Whenever I am feeling unworthy of my ordination, or lamenting my own sinfulness and weakness, I need only look to who Jesus chose as His greatest apostle.

Peter: A man to whom Jesus once said, “Get behind me, Satan!” A man that often had doubts of his own worthiness. A man who denied three times that he even knew Jesus.

Jesus chose Peter, this broken, sinful, “regular guy” as the rock upon which He built His church. This man became our first Pope.

I don’t believe when Jesus chose Peter He did so randomly. It was His method of operation to carefully choose ordinary men, sinful and broken. In so doing, He sent us an important message: “All are welcome. All are called.”

As part of His apostolic Church, we have an obligation to answer that call as well.