LET US FOLLOW PETER BACK TO JESUS

⏰Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter (02 June 2017)

????Acts 25:13b-21; Ps 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab (R.v.19a); John 21:15-19

Did you notice that after his resurrection, Jesus addressed Peter as Simon instead of Peter? Recall that after Peter’s Great Confession at Caesarea Philippi (Matt 16:13ff), Jesus changed his name to Peter, a symbol of the rock on which the Church would be built (cf. Matt 16:17-18). Peter continued to bear that name until he denied Jesus three times at the courtyard of the High Priest (cf. Matt 26:69-75).

In other words, Jesus called him Peter by virtue of the great favour he enjoyed from God (see Matt 16:17) but he fell from grace after denying Jesus.

The same thing happens to us anytime we are involved in mortal sin. At our baptism, we pick up a new identity as Christians but we lose this identity when we commit sin.

Our catechism teaches us that a Christian is one who BELIEVES and PUTS INTO ACTION all the teachings of Jesus. That’s why we said that he loses his identity through sin just as Peter did.

However, Jesus always tries to heal us and restore our lost identity. Look at what he did to Peter in John 21:15-19. Just as Peter denied him three times, he allowed Peter to reprofess his love for him three times. And in the end, he told him, “follow me” (John 21:19). That means, having professed his love for Jesus, Peter is once more welcomed back into the fold of his followers.

Are we ready to follow Peter back to Jesus or do we want to remain outside the love of Jesus due to our sin? The choice is ours to make but Jesus is always beckoning on us to come back.

May the Holy Spirit give us the courage to always go back to him and not remain outside his love for so long. Amen.

Have a wonderful day ahead. Peace be with you.