Do you believe that you can be like Jesus?

ME

I would like to start with a personal story.

I often stop at the adoration chapel right after dropping my daughter to school. I find it very convenient to pray the Liturgy of the Hour in the morning.

On this particular day I was sitting in a pew close to the door that faces the church. I was done with the Liturgy of the Hour and I was reflecting with my eyes closed when I heard an unusual noise coming from the foyer of the chapel. 

After hearing heavy steps and the foyer door closing heavily, the door of the chapel opened slightly, and I saw a very familiar face calling my name with fear and trepidation. “Angelo, come!”

Immediately I thought that someone was hurt in the family life center, maybe an elderly person had fallen. Instead she told me “my grand baby is dying.” She was scared and immediately I gave her a hug and invited her to pray with me. It was a very intense moment when we prayed for her daughter and the baby in her womb.

The presence of the Lord was strong and truly palpable.

Later in the day I was reflecting on that intense moment and asking myself where was God in that moment? And how did He manifest Himself so strongly? I realized that in that moment I was completely detached from any of my agendas, places I needed to be, or being self conscious on how I would come across in prayer. Nothing else was in my mind and heart other than offering my prayer for her in that moment of suffering. The Holy Spirit was at work and I felt it.

Later in the day I found out that that baby and the mother were fine and healthy. Praise be to God!

When I brought this story to my spiritual director he asked me: “Is there any gospel passage that comes to mind that resembles this story?” My mind went to the many times that Jesus or the apostles responded to the needs of the people that called for their help. He further asked me, could you see your story overlaying on top of the gospel story?

The immediate reaction was - no. How can it be that even a fraction of my life, can be like a gospel story?! It was hard to say yes, to accept that in that moment of being called for help I responded with the Heart of Jesus, with the Holy Spirit.

Yes, we are called to be like Jesus - not only 10% OR 80% - but 100%. While we cannot be like Jesus 24/7, no one can, not even Saint Mother Teresa, but we certainly can, in moments of time.

YOU

Do you believe that you can be like Jesus? That some part of your life can be like a gospel story?

GOD

In the Gospel today we see Peter making the most important profession of Faith of the New Testament. Responding to Jesus’s question:  “Who do you think that I am?”. Peter said with no hesitation - “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” 

Jesus highly rewarded Peter’s profession of Faith saying: “Blessed are you Simon, son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.”

Jesus is telling us that it was the Spirit of the Father, the Spirit of God that informed Peter in that moment. And for this reason Peter was able to act in the Spirit, free from any attachment. He was recognized by Jesus as the rock upon which He will build the Church with these words that we just read “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church. And the gates of the netherworld will not prevail against it.”

Jesus proclaimed these words in Caesarea Philippi, a city built on top of a hill with one side on a bare rock cliff, that gives an appearance of invincibility to this city. By choosing this city Jesus reinforced the idea that Peter will be the foundational rock of the invincible Church that will always prevail against evil.

If you have paid attention to the Sunday gospels this month, you have noticed how Peter failed miserably multiple times. 

The first one, three sundays ago, when he didn't understand what was going on at the transfiguration of Jesus and he wanted to prepare three tents. Then two weeks ago we heard the story of Peter courageously stepping out of the boat in Faith and walking on water until his gaze moved away from Jesus and he started drowning. 

And next week you will hear how Peter will be rebuked by Jesus as Satan for not understanding that Jesus would have to suffer and die.

How can Peter be the rock of our Church? Also, why does the New Testament talk about Peter more than any other apostle, especially highlighting Peter’s multiple failures? 

G.K Chesterton said - The mystic John or the brilliant Paul could have been a much more logical choice to be the rock of the Church!

But Jesus founded the Church on Peter, a weak person, like me and you to show that even when built on a weak person, the Church is still indestructible. The Holy Spirit can prevail on any weakness.

What makes Peter the rock is not his brilliance or his mysticism. Peter is the rock, because each time he failed he was open to receive the Lord again. He had an unshakable Faith that turning back to the Lord will heal him. He didn’t run away when he missed the ball at the transfiguration; he extended his hand to be saved by Jesus when he was drawing after walking on water; he didn’t run away when he was rebuked as Satan by Jesus, and finally he accepted the triple forgiveness from Jesus after he denied him three times. Peter loved the Lord even in the low times of his life.

Peter always remained open to be healed by Jesus, to be detached from his failures and personal agendas. This is why Peter is the rock, he had an unshakable Faith in Jesus, and Hope in Jesus’s promises. All the way to give his life for Jesus.

And when we have this Faith and Hope - “Rivers of living water will flow from within him who believes in [Jesus].” John 7:38.

YOU

How can you and I in our brokenness be the rock for Christ the King?

US

To be like Peter we have to detach ourselves from sin, wounds and failures. Peter detached from all of that, so he could attach himself more to the Lord and to love of neighbor. Peter continually accepted the help of the Lord. 

We are offered this help continually in the Sacrament of the Eucharist and in the Sacrament of reconciliation. 

Are we open to it like Peter?

God is not separated from us, as S.John of the Cross said, God is already in us. For John of the Cross “God is in me and I am in God.[always]”

The problem is that most of us don’t realize how united we are with God, mostly because of our attachments that hold us back.

The fruit of this detachment is a life that flows out of the Spirit of God that leads us to love more deeply our Lord and our neighbor. 

I know I want more of that! And I think you want that too.

S.Peter, pray for us!