Staying Faithful Today: To God, Ourselves, One Another by Alfred McBride OPRAEM

Author:Alfred McBride OPRAEM [McBride OPRAEM, Alfred]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Anthony Messenger Press
Published: 2011-07-23T16:00:00+00:00

Let us love God above all things, dearest brothers, then our neighbor, for these are the chief commandments given to us. The first purpose for which you have come together is to live in unity in the house and to be of one mind and heart on the way to God.

A Faithful Friend

Scripture records many stories of faithful friendships. The story of Peter’s friendship with Christ is one such example. Peter loved Jesus, and he knew that Jesus loved him. Peter was clumsy in human relations. A fighter by nature, he did not understand Christ’s submission to death. Peter wanted a more “macho” Jesus. Yet when courage was needed, Peter failed the test and Jesus did not. Jesus faced up to the most dangerous people in town, but Peter could not even stand up to a group of strangers. Just when his best friend needed him, Peter lost courage.

While Jesus was on trial before the religious court, Peter was outside warming himself by the fire. A maid recognized his Galilean accent and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” In front of the others, he said, “I do not know what you are talking about.” Another woman saw him and also accused him of being on Christ’s side. Peter took an oath and declared “I do not know the man!” Then others repeated the accusation, to which Peter replied with curses and swearing, “I do not know the man.” The cock crowed. He left the courtyard and wept bitterly (see Matthew 26:69–75).

Despite his cowardly behavior, deep down Peter never lost his friendship with Jesus, and Jesus never lost his affection for Peter. After Easter, Jesus came to Peter and gently teased out of this normally inarticulate fisherman a threefold declaration of love (see John 21:15–17). Peter is not accustomed to speaking of love openly, but Jesus helps him heal the wounds of his triple denial by the triple affirmation of love. Three times Peter said firmly, “Yes, I love you, my Lord.” Then Jesus commissioned him to the powerful ministry of leading the body of Christ to the world.

Gone now is all his timidity about faith and love. The first twelve chapters of the Acts of the Apostles describe a Peter who goes to jail, is scourged with whips, and is fiercely attacked by the enemies of the faith. When warned he must stop preaching and healing in the name of Jesus, he and John forthrightly vowed, “But Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard’” (Acts 4:19–20). Eventually Peter goes to Rome and is martyred for the faith.

The Easter scene at the beach disclosed a vision of leadership that is founded on love given by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5) and loyalty between the leader and the apostle. It flowed from an adult view of friendship that commanded trust and respect.

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