There is a popular show on TV called “Shark Tank” and the idea behind it is that people who have potentially lucrative new products or young businesses try to entice a group of 5 or 6 famous millionaires and billionaires to invest in their company. One of these wealthy investors is Lori Grenier, who is the face of QVC. She started humbly as an inventor and built her fortune piece by piece. On the show, she claims to have a gift of knowing if a product or company is a “hero” or a “zero.” If St. Peter was put in the spiritual shark tank, would he be a hero or a zero? Last week, we would certainly have to say “hero”! Jesus asks the apostles, “who do you say that I am?” Without hesitation, Peter speaks for all of them and says, “you are the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God!” Jesus praises him and makes Peter the rock on which he will build his Church. Just a few moments later, Jesus tells the apostles what being the messiah means. Suffering, betrayal, torture, and death in the worst possible way! St. Peter, the hero, interrupts the Lord, St. Matthew includes an interesting detail, he says Peter wraps his arm around Jesus, sort of like you would grab a child who was getting too close to the street, and he scolds Jesus. Peter’s tone is patronizing and proud as he “tells” Jesus he won’t let this happen to the Lord.
Our first pope goes from hero to zero instantly. Jesus’ reaction is visceral; it almost seems vicious, as he calls Peter “Satan”, which literally means “adversary”. Why are Jesus’ words so strong? Did he just need a snickers candy bar? Or maybe some coffee? To understand this gospel, we have to think back in Matthew’s gospel, to chapter 4, where Jesus retreated into the desert after his baptism. After 40 days of prayer and fasting, he was hungry and the devil came to tempt him. He told Jesus to use his power to change rocks into bread, throw himself off the temple so God’s angels will catch him, and worst of all, bow to the devil in exchange for the worldly power Satan holds. Essentially satan was telling Jesus to use his Divine power for his own benefit, to do sensational things to impress and entertain others, and to compromise with worldly powers, to reduce his Divine standards.
St. Peter unwittingly urges Jesus to do these same things. To use his Divine power to save his life, to defeat and shame his foes, and build up an earthly kingdom. How it must have stung Jesus’ Sacred Heart to hear one of his closest friends echoing the temptations of the Evil One?! No wonder he reacts so strongly! In the desert Jesus commands the devil to leave, to go away. It is different with Peter. Jesus tells him to get behind him, in other words, ‘follow me Peter. It is your place to go where I go. It is not your job to lead me but to follow. How incredible that eventually St. Peter will stretch out his arms on a cross as a martyr. He will embrace the very fate he tried to sway Jesus from!
So what is the lesson for us? Perhaps first and foremost, it is that we should never tell God what he should do. We actually do this more often than we would like to admit. Whenever we decide we know what is best for us or for others, rather than God, we become an adversary to the Lord. As soon as we realize our error, most often manifested in pride, we need to get behind Jesus once again and follow him. This may be a daily experience for many of us.
Secondly, it is not enough to simply recognize Jesus as Lord. Peter and the apostles realized He was the Son of God pretty quickly. What took much longer and what changed their lives was understanding what his Lordship meant and demanded from them. For a long time, they saw Jesus the Lord with worldly eyes. They thought the Messiah would wield worldly power; he would humiliate anyone who opposed him, run the Romans out of Israel, and make God’s people victorious over the whole world. In their minds, he would be exalted and served and rich. As his right-hand men, they were looking forward to sharing the spoils. With this mindset, it’s no wonder Peter said what he did. With this understanding of the messiah, there is no room for the cross or betrayal or suffering. Death would be the ultimate defeat.
To help his apostles (and us) understand what his Lordship means, he gives three conditions for every person who wants a share of his eternal glory. To follow the Savior of heaven and earth we must 1) deny ourselves, 2) take up our cross, and 3) follow him. What does this mean in practical terms?
To deny ourselves is not just giving up stuff. It is much deeper than that. For the Christian, denying ourselves is learning to say no to our sinful self that always wants more: more money, more food, more pleasure, more power, etc…By saying no to our ravenous self, we open the door to say “yes” to God. With God’s grace we lower ourself and elevate God. We make him the center of our lives rather than our self with its never-ending desires and hungers.
To take up the cross is to accept willingly, joyfully, the burden of sacrifice. Jesus could have used his power for himself but in his eternal wisdom used it to bear the cross so the world could be healed, redeemed, and restored. The Christian life is defined by sacrificial service in the same way: bearing burdens for the good of all. We may have to let go of personal ambition to serve Christ. It is very possible that the place we will be fully alive in our faith will be somewhere where the pay is less or the recognition is non-existent. Carrying our cross will mean sacrificing time, money, comfort, and leisure so we can serve God and others. If joyful and generous sacrifice is not part of our life on every level, we are still holding onto the earthly kingdom.
Finally, to follow Jesus is to obey him. The Christian life is a constant, faithful following of the Lord in our thoughts, words, and deeds. We don’t make excuses or exceptions, even when that following is difficult or unpopular. This third condition of discipleship is strengthened by daily prayer, where we look to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, with a humble and obedient spirit.
Lord, please lead us and give us abundant grace to trust and follow you. Help us understand the Divine wisdom of your lordship and live it faithfully. Take away the fear and selfishness that keeps us from denying ourselves, taking up the cross, and following you. We believe in you, Jesus, help our unbelief. Amen!
