What makes a leader? Jesus makes clear in this week’s Gospel that leadership does not require perfection. Peter was far from perfect. Most of his exchanges with Jesus revealed his own frailty. Peter experienced many of Jesus’s greatest miracles. He was present for Jesus’s Transfiguration, and he walked on water with Jesus. Even so, Peter still denied Jesus as He faced the suffering of his crucifixion. Thus, it is notable that Jesus—fully aware of Peter’s faults—identifies Peter as the foundation for the Church.

         Peter’s leadership stands out not because he is perfect, but because he is resilient. He does not let his failings define him. Instead, he always returns to Christ, ultimately leading the church and paying the ultimate price as a martyr. Despite his suffering death, Peter’s legacy endures in the flourishing of the Church.

         This week’s Gospel calls on me to reflect on the ways I deal with failure. In life, mistakes are inevitable. As Jesus called Peter, He also calls upon us to get back up and strive to be the rocks in our families, churches, and communities. It is our perseverance when we fall, not our perfection, that ultimately defines us. 

-Scott Gray