Fr. Thomas M. Pastorius
February 15, 2015
Spiritual Ponderings
St. Peter’s Fall and Reconciliation

In just a few days we will be entering into Lent and so let us continue to look at what led St. Peter to deny Christ and how he eventually reconciled with the Lord. Quotes from Fulton Sheen book: Characters of the Passion: Lessons on Faith and Trust will be in bold and my work will be in the normal font.

Satisfaction of material wants, feelings, and emotions
It is only natural, therefore, to find that in the next stage of his decline, Peter should be satisfying his body. He does not go into the courtroom. He remains outside with the servants; and in the expressive language of sacred Scripture, “…when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were sitting about it, Peter was in the midst of them (Luke 22:55)

St. Peter has now moved to a state in his life where he never thought he would be just 24 hours earlier. Instead of standing beside Christ and declaring his undying loyalty to the Son of God, the man Peter saw transfigured he is now trying to comfort himself in a fire outside hoping no one will remember that he was a follower of Christ.

There is a process going on in Peter, but is hardly progress, for it is a downward movement—walking, standing, sitting. That is exactly what Peter did. Walking: He followed Him from afar.” Standing: He went into the court and stood among the people. Sitting: He sat by the fire that the enemies of Christ had built. Luxury had replaced fidelity. Never before was anyone so cold before a fire!

I know that in my life when I am confident of God’s love the last thing I worry about is my own physical comfort, but when I am not confident in God’s love for me then I try to surround myself with material goods to protect and comfort me.

Human respect
The last stage in the fall is human respect, when we deny our faith or are ashamed of it, under ridicule or scorn. A worldly religion will get on well with the world, but not a divine one. As our Lord warned, “when they persecuted you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes” (Mathew 10:23).

After reading the above quote, I cannot help but wonder if I would ever deny Jesus if there was no one else. My desire to be liked/loved though can cause me to not declare my loyalty to Christ because I know that Christ even 2,000 years later is still a controversial figure. It is also important to point out that to deny the Catholic Church and all its teachings is to deny Christ for we are His Mystical Body.

As the blaze of that fire lighted up the face of Peter, it was possible for bystanders and those who came into the court to see his face. At that very moment, when our Blessed Lord in court was taking an oath proclaiming His divinity, Peter was taking an oath, too-not to reaffirm that Christ was the Son of the Living God, but rather to deny it.

The law demanded Jesus to take an oath. Peter on the other hands tries to add force behind his words of denial by swearing. Jesus humbly submits to the Law but Peter pride fully denies the truth. I have definitely been in Peter’s shoes before. When I am exalting myself, I know that it is only a matter of time before I am humbled.

Human respect had gotten the better of Peter. How often others know what we ought to do, even when we have forgotten. How touchy are those consciences that have abandoned their God! How sensitive they are to even the memory that they once had the faith! Many a time I have heard such souls say, “Do not talk about it! I want to forget it.” But we can never forget—even our speech betrays that we had been with the Galilean.

Why does the opinion of others matter so much? I will not be judged by them in eternal life.

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway. In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway. - Mother Teresa