Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church

"I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will continue to perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus." - Philippians 1:6

Prayer: Lord, we thank You for the wonder of Your being, that You love us in such a way, that we can know that we are loved in our brokenness and our weakness, and at the same time we can count on You to increase and strengthen our very being. Help us to have an inspired confidence in You as we look to the weaknesses and the ways that You have strengthened St. Peter. That we can trust and surrender that You will do the same for us. Amen.

St. Peter's Strength

This year the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter falls during Lent. So we have a Feast to celebrate as we live out this penetential season. This Feast celebrates that God would give us a teaching office to guide and support His Church on Earth. We celebrate that God has given us His word that "the gates of hell will not prevail against the church." (Mt 16:18b)

For today's feast I would like us to not only thank God for the gift of the Office of Peter, but for us to look at some of the many interactions of St. Peter that we see in scripture. St. Peter is often portrayed as rashly blurting out his thoughts and misspeaking, but as we look to the scriptures we see Simon Peter's character development and how the Word of God strengthen and renews St. Peter. Jesus speaking to Peter allows Him to grow and learn. And even more so we see the example of Peter, that his ability to be radically open and honest to God, allows God's Word to speak, to enter into those areas of weaknesses and by the grace of God to affect change to Peter so that Peter grows. St. Peter's strength is that He allows God's word to enter in and change him for the better, "to bring the good work that God has begun in him to completion." (cf. Phil 1:6)

Call of St. Peter - "But when Simon Peter saw [the miraculous catch of fish], he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.' ” (Lk 5:8) Jesus the looks to Simon Peter and speaks words that empower him, " 'Do not be afraid; from now on you will be a fisher of men.' When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him." (Lk 5:10b-11) Through the words, 'Do not be afraid," and the action of inviting Simon Peter to be part of His work, Jesus changes Simon Peter.

Confession of Faith and Gift of the Keys - Here after Peter proclaims that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus helps Peter understand what just happened to him and where his strength comes from, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven." That his strength is in his openness and connection to God. Peter's strength is in his ability to hear God within him, that he does not have to carry out the mission solely on his own strength.

Transfiguration - Peter gets caught up in the moment and speaks what makes sense to him, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” And we hear that, "While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them," meaning that he was not impacted by the changes around him from what he was thinking in his own mind. But when, "From the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" Peter and the other two disciples, "Fell to the ground and were overcome by fear." After the occasion of speaking on his own and hearing God the father speak, Peter was paralyzed in fear. It was first the touch, then the words of Jesus, that once again strengthens Peter. "Jesus came and touched them, saying, 'Get up and do not be afraid.'  And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone." (cf. Matthew 17:4-8)

Last Supper - Here I will focus on two things one as given account by John and the other Luke, there is more that could be said here. The following is the account of John, we see Peter's openness and willingness to speak and be corrected. In the end Peter submits to the word and instruction of Jesus, Peter trusts in Him: "He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean." (John 13:6-10)

And from Luke: in this interaction we see Peter's vision of himself and it is later contrasted with what is in him, but it is the prayer of Jesus, that Peter's faith will not fail that saves Peter. The power of Jesus's prayer that aids Peter. “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.”

Peter's Denial - Here it is the presence of Jesus, their history together, what this moment means that strengthens Peter after Peter is overcome by the grief over his actions. The look and the love of Jesus that saves Peter, moving Peter to repentance. "Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, “Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly." (Luke 22:59-62)

Sea of Galilee - From John 21, here again interacting with Jesus Peter is strengthened, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”

Pentecost - Filled with the Holy Spirit Peter preaches. (Acts 2) Peter knows that he is not alone that the Lord is with him.