Dear Sisters and Brothers,
In the liturgy of last Sunday, Peter declared Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus praised him for his declaration and told Peter that this was revealed to him by the Heavenly Father. This Sunday’s Gospel presents Peter in an unfavorable light as he tries to persuade Jesus that he should not suffer and die. It is then that Jesus calls Peter, “Satan,” and tells him, essentially, that the gates of Hell are prevailing against him. Why? Because Peter was objecting to Jesus’ words that he would suffer, be killed and be raised: “God forbid it, Lord!,” he shouted, “this must never happen to you!”
We might think that Peter’s was just the concern of a friend trying to prevent Jesus from suffering harm. But the Lord Jesus saw something much deeper. The reason why he called him “Satan,” was because Peter at that moment, without realizing it, was playing the part of Satan the tempter, effectively trying to steer Jesus away from doing his Father’s will of giving his life out of love to save ours.
Jesus also tells Peter, “Get behind me!” Because, Peter was trying to lead Jesus rather than to follow him! No creature can ever presume to lead the Creator, and no disciple can ever try to lead the Master! In the midst of a world that seeks to maximize pleasure and minimize pain, we are scandalized by the Cross. Like Peter, we would prefer to call the shots, too, and lead God rather than follow him. Jesus very directly summed up what was the cause of Peter’s fall: “You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
Peter really loved Jesus, believed in Jesus and wanted to follow Jesus. But when he realized that Jesus’ glory has to pass through suffering and death and that he himself has to carry the cross to be a disciple of Christ, he is unwilling to accept that. For Peter and the other disciples, suffering and the Cross are a hindrance! But for Jesus, escaping the cross is the hindrance, hindrance to carrying out the Father’s will.
As disciples of the Lord, we need to let go of anything that hinders our following the Lord. Let us take to heart the invitation of the Lord: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.”
United in Prayers,
Fr. Joy Jacob, SDB