In the story "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," Willie Wonka, searching for someone to run his chocolate factory after he retires, makes a shocking selection.

He doesn't choose an experienced candy executive. He doesn't hand the company to someone from his own family. He doesn't even give it to one of his loyal employees. Instead, he gives his business empire to a little boy named Charlie because Charlie has proven to be honest.

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus does something similar. He announces to his followers that he will build his church through the work of Peter, saying to Peter, "Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven."

We know nothing of Peter's theological education. We know little about his family background. And the only work experience we are aware of is that he had some kind of fishing operation with his father and his brother. How is this man qualified to succeed Christ as the next leader of his ministry?

Well, one important difference between Charlie and Peter is that Charlie really does have to run the empire he's been given. Peter does not. Charlie has to keep on selling chocolate and keep the Oompa Loompa workforce happy. Peter, on the other hand, has the promise and power of God that the church will be built and nothing will prevail against it. In other words, while Jesus was indeed handing Peter a huge responsibility, he also promises Peter that God would not allow him to fail.

The good news for all of us is that we are given this same responsibility and promise. We are all called to continue Christ's ministry of love, compassion, healing and justice. We are all sent into a world that may or may not welcome this message. But we are also promised that the unconditional love of God is with us, supporting us, ensuring that nothing will prevail against us.

I don't know about you, but I spend a lot of time worrying about what might prevail against me. The gates of the netherworld are far from my worries. I'm concerned about far lesser threats - financial failure, job insecurity, the health of my family. I feel threats to my success and security in life all the time.

I'm not very quick to remember that God's unconditional love is here to support me, and that God's will is certain to be done. It's easy to believe that that threatening forces of the world are stronger than God's promises. But they aren't.

"Who has given the Lord anything that he may be repaid?" the second reading asks. We do not have to sell God's product, manage God's employees, or otherwise run God's business. We are not responsible for God's work in the world. God is.

We are responsible for putting our lives in God's hands, and letting God's will be done instead forcing our own plans to be done. When we align our lives with God's will, we too can become cornerstones for God's work in the world.

Bill Peatman writes from Napa. He may be reached at bptidings@yahoo.com.