St. Joseph of the Lakes

St. Peter finally gets it when asked by Jesus: “who do you say that I am”. His answer is a definite and definitive: “You are the Christ the Son of the living God.” Yet this week as Jesus continues his teaching, Peter finds it all too much as Jesus tell them that he was destined to go to Jerusalem to suffer; to be put to death; and to be raised up on the third day.  He tells Jesus: “...this must not happen to you!” Although he has faith that Jesus is the Son of God, his understanding of what this means does not fit in with what Jesus is teaching. 

I do not think St. Peter is unique in this perspective. I think many people have been raised with certain understandings of who Jesus is that blind them to the reality of what Jesus says of himself. Too many have been raised with the idea Jesus gives rewards to those who follow him (by following the rules and going to church)  and he blesses them with good health, sometimes wealth, certainly good standing within the Christian community. However Jesus tells us in Matthew 25: 31-46 (which is his last public teaching before his passion and death) that “I was hungry; I was thirsty; I was a stranger; I was naked; sick or in prison”  Whenever we meet the needs of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me. He also tells us that as we neglect one of the least ones, we neglect him.

If we do not get this, then we are as blind as St. Peter. He knew the truth about Jesus, he just could not understand its application.