by Msgr. Joseph P. Calise
In the Gospel we heard last Sunday, Jesus asks his disciples who they believe him to be. His question, “Who do you say I am?” sparks Peter (then known as Simon) to reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Applauding the faith that has led him to this declaration, Jesus names him Peter, the rock upon which the Church will be built.
Although he acknowledges the correctness of the answer, he cautions the disciples to tell no one at this time. It is something the people will not understand yet. He goes on to explain that they must proceed to Jerusalem where he will suffer, die, and rise.
St. Matthew says that, at that moment, Peter pulls Him aside and begins to rebuke Him. Peter’s desire that Jesus should not suffer receives the response, “Get behind me, Satan!”
Just called “Rock” a few minutes earlier, Peter is now called “Satan.”
Peter wants to eliminate suffering from the job description of the Christ (and the Christian). In his humanity, he does not want to see Jesus, whom he has come to know and love, suffer. That is human but not realistic.
There is suffering, to some degree, that is part of the human condition. It is not reserved only for people of faith. The dramatic suffering in the life of Christ was necessary for the fulfillment of the Scriptures and the offering of a perfect sacrifice to the Father.
As Christians, our suffering is but a small participation in His. But that does not make it pleasant, nor does it make it seem unreasonable that Peter should want not only Christ but himself to be able to avoid it.
The gift of faith is not that it eliminates suffering, but that it gives it meaning — a purpose.
It enables an encounter with God’s grace, not only reminding us of our dependence on Him but also assuring us of His presence to fulfill that reliance. Peter was, no doubt, flattered to be named the rock upon which the Church would be built.
Jesus invited him to a fuller understanding of what that means, a deeper level of faith that promises not the removal of suffering but its insertion in the plan of God and his grace to bring it to completion.
The next chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel begins, “Six days after, Jesus brought Peter, James and his brother John to a high mountain by themselves …” There He is transfigured before them and their understanding of the words, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” becomes even clearer.
I promised last week that the combined Gospels would give us a message of comfort. So, last week Simon was renamed “Peter.”
Then Peter is called “Satan” this weekend.
Then, St. Matthew tells us that he is brought up a mountain to witness the Transfiguration.
The rebuke does not take away from the trust Jesus has in him.
Even though Peter did not get it right the first time (and a few times after that), Jesus still entrusted His Church to him. We do not have to be perfect; we are not expected to be perfect.
We are expected to be willing to learn and continue growing and developing in our faith. The simple question, “Who do you say I am?” is one we should ask ourselves daily.
In each stage of our life, our reliance on God will be different.
As children, learning the catechism; as young adults, discovering our personhood; as adults, living actively in family formation and workplaces; and as seniors, aware that life is not created to last forever, our sufferings and challenges are very different.
So too will our experience of God’s presence and grace be. We will make mistakes.
Christ will always be there to correct, forgive, and gently urge forward those who want to follow Him.
Like Peter, we do not have to be perfect, just willing to learn.
Msgr. Joseph P. Calise is the pastor of Transfiguration-St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Maspeth.