Catholic Identity & Mission News

A Declaration of Faith

People are finding different ways to cope with ‘Lockdown Life’. In fact, I think we’re beginning to forget what normal life is even like! I was speaking with my sister, a Registered Nurse who like many parents, is also dealing with home schooling. Last week, she and her husband decided they would watch a movie after dinner and when he asked her what she wanted to watch she replied, ‘something with Romance or Revenge!’. She needed a good outcome where there was either going to be love or ‘justice’ – those certainties of Hollywood movies! Her anecdote came to my mind when I heard, and read, last Sunday’s Gospel – a Gospel reading that we often use here at school because it features St. Peter's College so prominently.

The sub-heading for this Gospel in the lectionary is ‘The Son of Man is destined to suffer grievously’ – not a very optimistic opening! It’s from Mark 8:27-35, and in it Jesus asks the disciples, ‘Who do people say I am?’ Different ones answer John the Baptist, or Elijah but then, ‘Peter spoke up and said to him, ‘You are the Christ.’ Full marks to Peter! I often say to students when talking about St. Peter that he always had a go. He was often the first to offer an answer or ask a question but, in this instance, he waited and came in with the most beautiful declaration of faith. Jesus confirmed Peter’s accuracy by telling them not to tell anyone about his true identity yet. One can only imagine that Peter, like all of us when we get it right, felt pretty pleased with himself. 

Jesus then went on to tell them that he was going to ‘suffer grievously’. It would appear that Peter thought something like ‘Hang on a minute, this isn’t how it’s meant to go for the Christ is it?!’ because the Gospel states that Peter took Jesus aside and ‘started to remonstrate with him’. But Jesus, ‘rebuked Peter and said to him, ‘Get behind me, Satan! Because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.’ Humanity does want those ‘Hollywood endings’ – romance or revenge – because we want love and justice. Peter did too. How could he bear that the friend he loved, the one whom he knew was the Christ, was going to suffer? But one of the many things that Jesus taught through his human existence is that suffering is a part of life, and through suffering we learn. 

The Catholic faith does not promote the belief in predestination – that things are absolutely destined to happen. We all have the gifts of free will, and conscience. We have choices about how we live, love and respond to things. St. Peter’s  example in the Gospel is one that reflects great humanity – he was as gifted and flawed as each of us. Sometimes we too, can’t understand why people or situations are as they are but as members of a Catholic community, we are called to be like St. Peter – courageous, loving and resilient – and to be hope-filled even in uncertain times. We may want Hollywood endings but we’re realistic to know that we are living in the real world and things don’t always follow the script! 

I know that others too will write about our recently appointed Student Leaders in our newsletter this week, but I was so impressed with the quality and enthusiasm of all our Candidates for Student Leadership in 2022. They expressed what has been crucial to our experience of COVID and what makes our School Community strong – that we care for, listen to, and support one another whatever the circumstances. And they are committed to leading the way next year. They have all heard this Gospel reading while at the College and I hope they will learn from it. As they have their successes and challenges along the journey, I pray that they will follow God’s way, be persistent and resilient, and lead with love and justice for all in our School Community. 

Fiona McKenna

Deputy Principal - Catholic Identity & Mission