Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
In today’s gospel, Jesus questions his disciples about their thoughts of who he is. It is Simon Peter who jumps in immediately: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” Jesus is quite pleased with this answer and immediately renames Simon as Peter (Petros or Rock) and asserts that he will build his church on the rock of Peter’s faith. This is certainly one of the high points of Peter’s life.
However, it is immediately followed by one of the lowest points. Jesus begins to explain what will happen to him when they get to Jerusalem; how he will be arrested, tortured, put to death, and raised on the third day. Peter pulls him aside and rebukes him, saying: “God forbid, Lord, no such thing will ever happen to you!” Jesus turns away and rebukes Peter in turn: “Get behind me, Satan, you are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
This pattern continues throughout Peter’s life. When Jesus walks on the water, Peter asks to walk over the water to Jesus. Peter also then walks on the water, but then he notices the wind and waves and begins to sink. When Jesus is arrested as foretold, Peter has the courage to follow but then denies him three times. In response to this denial, Jesus, after his resurrection, reconciles with Peter by asking him three times if Peter loves Jesus. Peter responds each time with a yes.
However, even with these ups and downs, Peter ends well. First at Pentecost, Peter begins to speak boldly about the Lord and becomes a leader among the apostles, as well as a good missionary. Finally, Peter arrives in Rome, where he dies a martyr’s death. What carried Peter through these ups and downs is his love for and trust in Jesus. Even when he falls away, he always returns. And the Lord, in his turn, always loves and accepts Peter back. We can take Peter’s experience as a sign of hope for ourselves. We know at times we will fail Jesus, but if we have the trust and courage to return to him as Peter did; Jesus, for his part, will always welcome us back with the same love he showed to Peter.
Reflection by Fr. Aquinas Keusenkothen, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections