The Master and the Rock

DOMINUS VOBISCUM!

“Lord,” Peter said to him, “why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!” (John 13:37)

It was a bold offer by the Rock but it turned out to be a mere grandstanding gesture with his comrades. God knew right there and then it was a fluke offer that He prophesied in haste in front of his apostles the monumental denial of God that Peter will commit not just once or twice but thrice. It happened like thunder. He just sobbed and did not lay down his life as he boldly said he would. It would have been better for him had he choked with the words that he ate while sobbing. He could have redeemed himself accidentally from his scene-grabbing antics. The Lord was right after all in addressing him “Satan” early on.

“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” At which Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” (Peter gave no answer) (John 21:15)

A second time he puts his question, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord”, Peter said, “You know that I love you.” Jesus replied, “Tend my sheep.” (Peter again was mum. He did not give an answer.) (John 21:16)

A third time Jesus asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because he had asked a third time. So he said to him: “Lord, you know everything, you know well that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” (Peter for the third time gave no answer.) (John 21:17)
 
The RESURRECTED Son of Man forwarded questions of love thrice in succession and commands of servitude likewise thrice in succession towards Peter who, prior to the Resurrection and at the height of the Passion, denied thrice in succession the Son of Man.

To the three questions of love of God forwarded frontally by the Resurrected Christ to Peter the Rock, there was a quick affirmative answer. Take note, however, that no quick verbal response emanated from the lips of Peter the Rock from the three commands of servitude forwarded upon him face-to-face by the Resurrected Christ. In short, Peter did not give his fiat.
 
As the Rabbi, the RESURRECTED CHRIST had every right to cross-examine His chosen ones particularly those who faltered and toyed with the divine script that He fulfilled. The Creator-creature relationship still holds. It is the basic relationship between God and man. The test questions of love and the commands of servitude were answerable only with yes or no. Besides, it was not a human authority who was interrogating and commanding. It was a Resurrected Divinity. He must be answered truthfully and not silently. Nonetheless, Peter’s verbosity inexplicably vanished into thin air for whatever reason. 

The Rock was the only apostle subjected to such kind of grilling by the Resurrected Master. He was given the chance by the RESURRECTED CHRIST to conquer the wily beast within him that he listened to when he denied his Master three consecutive times. When he passionately denied his Master thrice in succession, he preferred himself more than the Person he addressed “Messiah, Son of the living God”, He preferred himself more than the Person he promised to give his life for that he did not do. He did not want to be persecuted and condemned like his Master. He lied to his teeth as the prophecy said he would.

Simon Peter readily answered with a “yes” the questions of love frontally directed to him thrice by his Master. However, He was unusually tongue-tied with the commands or orders of love put forth by the RESURRECTED Messiah after each question. He was a confidently assertive and talkative apostle but at that instance he suddenly became mute with the commands of love frontally put forth on his face by His Master. With feelings and a flair for theatrics, he readily answered the moving questions of love with a ‘yes’ but was speechless with the commands of love forwarded upon him. In short, he did not give his fiat to the command or order of GOD. He was untrue to his word. It was pure lip service. He did not openly submit himself to the command frontally issued to him by the RESURRECTED GOD.  He cannot swallow playing the role of servant in the kingdom of God. The virgin from Nazareth gave her fiat to the invitation of GOD with the following response, “Be it done unto me according to thy word.”The Son of Man agonized in heartfelt prayer in the garden of Gethsemani and finally submitted to the will of His Father who is one with Him. Did He not said with the sweat of blood trickling down His face: “Father, thy will be done!”? Judas Iscariot expressed his fiat to the order or command of betrayal with an embrace and a kiss. Simon Peter with his uncharacteristic silence did not submit himself voluntarily and wholeheartedly to the command of GOD. He was oblivious of or he chose to ignore the truth that GOD treasures His word or command more than any of His creation. “Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.” The inconsistency of Peter’s misdemeanors and stance belies his true character. He failed to pass the test of love. It was so easy to answer “yes” to the commands of God as was done by the “blessed among women” and the Messiah Himself. Peter, however, preferred not to answer in spite of his assertiveness and cockiness with the Rabbi at the pivotal points in Salvation History. He cannot say “Thy will be done.” for whatever reason. 

No wonder the Son of Man addressed him “Satan”. He wants to love God on his own terms and not on anybody else’s standards and not even in compliance with the standards of his Master. It was not unconditional love of God that God commanded and thirst for. Peter wants to love God on the basis of his own human perception of love. The Rock preferred what he wants rather than submit himself to the will of the divine Person he himself declared as the Messiah. He stood firm on his belief that he was at par with the Messiah the reason why he opposed the fulfillment of the Scriptures by openly arguing against it in front of his comrades and even acting against it during the decisive phase of the Passion. He denied the Messiah thrice in succession after vehemently declaring that the prophecy of his denial will never happen. He did not lay down his life as he said he would. It is such kind of person the Roman Catholic Church proudly proclaims, exalts and elevates as the “Vicar of Christ“. The Roman Catholic clergy and laity cast their lot and destiny with the Rock. Where then are they headed from here? Adam and Eve cast their lot and destiny with the ancient serpent. They were hurled down to the earth from heaven. It was from the bed of roses to the frying pan. For the blind and devout followers of Peter and not God, it could be from the boiling bowl to the dark unfathomable incinerator.

The cracks upon the character of the “Rock” is an indisputable Scriptural fact. Elevating him to high heavens as the “Vicar of Christ” is a monumental historical flak.

Peace to everyone!