In our first reading we hear of the Apostles being taken before the high priest and the Jewish elders and questioned for speaking out in Jesus’ name. They were ultimately admonished for this and ordered not to do so anymore. However, before that order was given, Peter had the opportunity to speak out to these leaders and boldly proclaim what they had done in their ignorance, and that there was no way in the sight of God, he and the other Apostles could but continue to speak out in Jesus’ name. These were incredibly bold words for a mere fisherman to speak out to these leaders, yet they could not deny any of what was said. The truth needed to be said, and Peter was willing to lay all concern for self aside to proclaim this truth.
In our Gospel reading today we hear of how our Lord addressed Peter specifically asking him three times if he loved Him (this is interesting, as he had denied knowing him three times when he was questioned at the high priest’s house before Jesus’ crucifixion?), and after having heard Peters response those three times that he indeed loved him, He commissioned Peter to take care of His flock, and ultimately to follow him in the path of crucifixion. Peter did indeed do all these things, as leader of the early Church, and as our first Pope. He did indeed become the rock upon which the early Church was built, and he ultimately chose the path of suffering that our Lord had foretold. He made the choice to give all for the sake of Christ.
We are similarly commissioned to give all for the sake of Christ, and to speak out just as boldly in His name. There are many who do not yet know Jesus, or if they do, they do not know Him well enough, and we are charged with helping them in this. Just as in our second reading we hear of how every creature in heaven and earth cried out and acknowledged our Lords deserving all honors, we need to recognize that every person we encounter needs to know Christ, and at the very least be able to make the decision for themselves as to whether they wish to follow Him. If they do not know Him, and we have not bothered to tell them of Him, we are at severe fault, and we are not doing what our Lord expects of each and every one of us. The commission to Peter, and to all of the twelve, indeed extends to each of us as well.
It is not an easy calling, to be commissioned to proclaim Gods word, and I think this is as true today in our world that is so caught up in its own agenda focused on self-gratification, as it was in the days of the Apostles, when there were many who rejected Christ because they could not stand to embrace the truths that He manifested. There is great fear in those who do not want to look to ultimate truth but would rather create their own version of truth that is more comfortable for them, and does not require them to either change, or to accept God’s teaching. Accepting our Lords teaching is often not an easy thing, because there is so much within us, and in our society that proclaims our own self-interests as the only needed truth. Yet, we should inherently know, that there is no way for self-formulated, or even societally formulated agendas to be a reliable truth, because they are invariably rooted in personal selfishness, or self-serving agendas that others in society have created to pander to others to win them over. We need to be as watchful now, against this type of corruptive human influence as they were in the days of the early Church when there was so much out to destroy it. Our Lord has entrusted us with His Church here on earth, and with the task of calling all people to himself. The responsibility is an awesome one, and we need to humbly implore His help each day to guide us in this. We are not without hope though, because as part of God’s family we have a strong Father to guide us, and His Son to love and be an advocate for us. We have a strong family tree to lean against, and learn from, and we have each of our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us along. We are not alone, and like anything else, when we have the support of our family, we can do far more than we even think that we are capable of. This is especially true, I think, when we do this out of love for our Father.
Readings Podcast Link
https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-5t39q-121491f
Homily Podcast Link
The Deacons Bench 