The Gospel passage this Sunday at Mass involves Simon Peter receiving his new name–as we Catholics would say, Jesus names him the first Pope. Peter then, immediately, proceeds to make an idiot of himself and be rebuked by Jesus.

I read a reflection once, I believe by Bishop Sheen, about the reason Jesus chose the bumbling, spontaneous, unfaithful at times but always repentant Peter to be head of the Apostles, and the Church, over the more steady and faithful mystic John.

Sheen contemplates that the reason is simply because we need to see ourselves in Peter.

When we grow frustrated with our own slow faith, falls, and imperfections, we can look at Peter and remember that Jesus doesn’t require perfection of us here and now.

What Jesus requires is love–which Peter had in droves–an open heart, a desire to learn humility and to grow in obedience and faithfulness, and a determination not to despair over our falls to the point that we stop getting back up.

It is honestly very encouraging to look at Peter, with all his flaws and failures, and see how deeply Jesus loved him and what amazing things the grace of God was able to accomplish through him despite those imperfections.

Perhaps the reason Jesus named Peter, so very human, head of the Church, is so that we, in our own fallen humanity, can recognize that our fallen nature does not disqualify from the mercy or love of God.