Good old Peter

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

“Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’” (Matthew 16.13 – 19

            And to Peter’s epiphany, Jesus responded, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.” Today is the day we remember Peter and this famous confession of faith that he made. This rough fisherman, often stumbling, impetuous, intense, and uncouth, was one of the first disciples (along with his brother Andrew) to be called by Jesus (Holy Women, Holy Men).

            Peter figures prominently in the Gospels as the Rock of the Church, speaking boldly of his faith and then in Acts, helping the young church to spread beyond the Jewish community. And yet so often he struggled with himself, often stumbling, trying with all his might to love his Lord, and yet denying him (just before the crucifixion), acting rashly and impetuously (when he jumped out of the boat to walk on the water). The author of Holy Women, Holy Men suggests that Peter’s life

“reminds us that our Lord did not come to save the godly and strong but to save the weak and the sinful.  Simon, an ordinary human being, was transformed by the Holy Spirit into the ‘Rock’ and became the leader of the Church.” (174)

            In Peter’s footsteps, (as the collect appointed for today says), we too must “keep the Church steadfast upon the rock of this faith, so that in unity and peace we may proclaim the one truth and follow the one Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ” (175).

            If we are feeling unqualified for this duty, this charge, then we need only remember Peter and his frailty and fumbling, and pray for the presence of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, to be our transformer just as it was for Peter. Thinking we can walk on water is taking it a little far, however!