After the miraculous catch of fish, "Simon Peter fell at the knees of Jesus saying, 'Leave me, Lord. I am a sinful man' " (Lk 5:8). For Simon Peter, this was a flash of light in the midst of a life of self-deception. Peter was indeed a sinful man. He proved it by denying Christ three times (Lk 22:61) after boasting that he would die for Christ (Lk 22:33).

Peter was a sinful man. Nonetheless, Christ chose him to be the rock on which He would build the Church (Mt 16:18), the first apostle to meet the risen Christ (1 Cor 15:5), the preacher at the first Christian Pentecost, the birthday of the Church (Acts 2:14), and the head of the apostles (see Lk 22:31-32).

Why would Jesus choose a sinful man to lead His Church? Why does He choose sinners — some repentant and others not — to lead His Church today? Why did He choose you or me, even with all our sins? The Lord replies: "As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are My ways above your ways and My thoughts above your thoughts" (Is 55:9). "He chose the world's lowborn and despised, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who were something; so that mankind can do no boasting before God" (1 Cor 1:28-29). "God's folly is wiser than men" (1 Cor 1:25).

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 23, 2016

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