In the Gospel of the day, we hear Jesus foretelling Peter denying him. To which, Peter vehemently affirms his loyalty. For us listeners who know the whole story, the passionate rebuttal of Peter to Jesus' prophecy seems like a joke. We already know he is going to deny Jesus. This present passion and loyalty are only fleeting.
We may smirk at Peter's fierce loyalty, but we are no better off. We have our own convictions and principles, and if someone were to challenge them, we'd give them a good fight. But somewhere down the line (in three years, or three months or even three days!) we may give up those very convictions or principles for the slightest of trouble or risk to our more basics of life. It does not take long for convictions to become opinions. Jesus knew the depth of Peter's faith. Peter thought he had seen it all and that there was nothing that could separate him from Jesus!
Another dimension of this proclamation of loyalty and then the u-turn is basically because the primary proclamation is made solely on the strength of one's own power. God does not feature in the future plans. It's all about me battling it out, making it on my own accord. None of us really know all that will unfold in our lives. Not next year, not next month, not even the next minute. So our reply need not change. But our attitude to what will come can very well be that of trust - trust that we will not be alone.
"Well then, at least give me the strength to make that denial temporary!" could have been Peter's reply, if he knew Jesus well.
"I know that you are with me, help me too to be with you!"
We may smirk at Peter's fierce loyalty, but we are no better off. We have our own convictions and principles, and if someone were to challenge them, we'd give them a good fight. But somewhere down the line (in three years, or three months or even three days!) we may give up those very convictions or principles for the slightest of trouble or risk to our more basics of life. It does not take long for convictions to become opinions. Jesus knew the depth of Peter's faith. Peter thought he had seen it all and that there was nothing that could separate him from Jesus!
Another dimension of this proclamation of loyalty and then the u-turn is basically because the primary proclamation is made solely on the strength of one's own power. God does not feature in the future plans. It's all about me battling it out, making it on my own accord. None of us really know all that will unfold in our lives. Not next year, not next month, not even the next minute. So our reply need not change. But our attitude to what will come can very well be that of trust - trust that we will not be alone.
"Well then, at least give me the strength to make that denial temporary!" could have been Peter's reply, if he knew Jesus well.
"I know that you are with me, help me too to be with you!"
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