The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary show contrast between the personalities of Peter and Paul which is evidence that God acts with people as they are rather than requiring us to take on characteristics to please Him. Paul has been arrested in the passage from the Book of Acts and he is asserting his rights as a Roman citizen to have his legal case heard in Rome. We have already seen that Paul uses his clever and strategic mind to manipulate situations . He is doggedly determined to be the Apostle to the Gentiles throughout the world. The situation in the text from the Gospel of John is very different. Chas Kestermeier, S.J. and the author (Bekside?)of the Life After Epiphany blog agree with some Fathers of the Church that Jesus is giving Peter the opportunity to be reconciled three times with Jesus to mirror the denials he expressed during Jesus arrest. When we explore like Bekside, a whole other layer of meaning embedded in the original Greek text, we find that Peter is only comfortable to respond to Jesus questions seeking an agape love of self sacrifice with a philia love of friendship and affiliation. There is no grandstanding here. Peter speaks the truth of his current relationship with Jesus. Our culture would advise Jesus perhaps to "go with Paul"! Jesus entrusts the care of His Flock to the humiliated and poor in spirit fisherman. He promises the friend he has chosen that he will grow to the agape with which he will eventually give all for Christ. Our Friend trusts us with His mission even when we are not sure ourselves of where we stand!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment