The Confession of St Peter 		February 22
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). In these words, Simon bar-Jonah confessed his faith in Jesus, who accepted the title with an answering pun: “You are Peter, and on this rock (petra) I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). Characteristically, Peter promptly gets things wrong and is denounced as a stumbling block (Matthew 16:22-23).
The rough and impulsive fisherman figures prominently in the New Testament. He and his brother Andrew were the first of the disciples to be called. It was Peter who tried to walk on the water and began to sink; it was he who on the impulse of the moment wanted to build three shelters on the mountain of the transfiguration; it was Peter who rashly boasted his faithfulness to death and within a few hours denied any knowledge of his master.
After the resurrection, however, Peter rapidly grows in importance as a leader of the Twelve, and, after Pentecost, risks imprisonment and death, speaking out boldly in the name of Jesus and proclaiming his belief that Jesus is indeed the Messiah and has been raised from the dead. He was, as Paul says, one of the pillars of the church (Galatians 2:9), the rock whose strength and courage sustained the young church as it felt its way beyond the boundaries of the Jewish community. First there was the mission to Samaria. Then, after initial doubts about the admission of Gentile converts, Peter has the humility to accept a change of heart and to baptise the Roman centurion Cornelius and his household (Acts 10).
Even then, Peter had to struggle with his inbred prejudices. Paul, writing to the Galatians, reports how he felt bound to rebuke Peter for giving in to the pressure of Jewish Christians who wanted him to separate himself from the table-fellowship with Gentile Christians (Galatians 2:11-14).
Except for an oblique reference in the first letter of Peter (1 Peter 5:12) and a possible hint by Paul (Romans 15:20-22), there is no reference in the New Testament to Peter’s presence in Rome, but the reports that he was there are early and well-attested, and the site of his burial under the high altar of St Peter’s Basilica has considerable evidence in its favour. According to tradition he was executed during the Neronian persecution in Rome in 64 CE.
A special observance for “The Confession of St Peter” has been included in several recent Anglican revisions of the Calendar. It provides an observance for Peter similar to “The Conversion of St Paul” (25 January), in contrast to the joint commemoration of their deaths (29 June).
For Liturgical Use
Today we celebrate Peter and his confession of faith, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Peter, the impulsive and rash, trying and failing to walk on the water; denying his master before the crucifixion, yet risking imprisonment and death after Pentecost; baptising the Roman centurion Cornelius, yet failing in charity to Gentile Christians at Antioch and being rebuked by Paul. The tradition of his martyrdom in Rome is early, and the site of his burial under St Peter’s is highly probable.
Sentence
God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God.
			1 John 4:15
Collects
Gracious and eternal God,
you inspired Simon Peter to confess Jesus
as Messiah and Son of the living God;
keep your church firm on the rock of this faith,
that in unity and peace
we may proclaim the truth of your gospel,
to the glory of your name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God our light,
yours was the flash of brilliance
that awakened Peter to see
that Jesus is the Christ;
help us to exult in that light.
Psalms	22:22-31	95:1-7	
Readings
Ezekiel 3:4-11		A prophet’s mandate
Acts 4:8-13		Peter’s testimony
Matthew 16:13-19		Peter’s great confession
Post Communion Sentence
If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.		Romans 10:19