Crisis of Faith/Crisis of Love

by Fr. Thomas Keating

Chapter 19

Peter: The Formation of a Disciple

Part V

The disciples came to him after one of these sessions and complained, "The Pharisees did not like what you said. If you are to be accepted by them as the Messiah, don't you think it would be better to speak less frankly?"

The disciples had a lot of stock invested in Jesus' political success. They conceived of him as the Messiah in the sense of a national hero and king. They were concerned about his career. He constantly tried to break them of this narrow-minded idea, but they did not understand what Jesus was talking about. In fact, this lack of comprehension was characteristic of them. Mark tells us that after the miraculous multiplication of loaves and discourse on the Eucharist, the minds of the disciples "were a perfect blank." They did not understand what it all meant.

On one occasion, when Jesus thought it was time, he turned to Peter and asked: "Who do you say that I am?"

People were saying this and that about him. It was at this moment that Peter made his great act of faith: "You are Christ, the son of the living God!"

Jesus rewarded him by saying, "Peter, on you I will build my Church."

This was a great promise, greater than the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But he said, "I will build my Church on you." He did not say, "I am giving you the Church now."

Noticing Peter's chest beginning to bulge just a little bit, Jesus added quickly, "Now, do not tell anybody about this." Peter would  liked to have called in the photographers. Peter had a secret desire (not too secret from the others) to be the right-hand man of the Messiah. He had convinced himself that this was his proper role. When Jesus recognized that Peter was taking his future mission too seriously and in merely human terms, he began to speak to Peter and the apostles about his passion and death.

"From that time, Jesus began to make it plain to the disciples that it was necessary that he go up to Jerusalem, suffer at the hands of the elders, high priest, and scribes, die, and on the third day rise again."

In other words, this kingdom of his was to be established not by political power, ambition, or prestige, but by suffering and the cross. Peter had to change his ideas about what the head of the apostolic college would require.

Peter was still concerned about the attitude of the scribes and Pharisees. Things were not going too well in that important area of public opinion. The next scene shows us how matter-of-fact and how much at ease the disciples were with Jesus. Peter called Jesus aside to lecture him. That is what the gospel says: "Peter drew him aside and proceeded to lecture"--the Son of God!

He said, "Lord, this business of going up to Jerusalem and being crucified--I don't think it is such a hot idea. The scribes and Pharisees have shown disapproval of the way things are going, and they have been offended by your remarks. Now you are speaking about being crucified. What will happen to the Messianic kingdom? What will happen to us?" What will happen to Peter!

And his final admonition was, "May God spare you, Master . . . Let's not talk any more about suffering, please!"

Although he had just made him the chief of the apostles, the Lord turned angrily and said: "Back to your place, Satan!" A stinging rebuke! The other disciples heard it and trembled. Jesus said it loud enough so that they all would hear. He turned on Peter the full force of his indignation, because now Peter was meddling in something essential to the kingdom, the will of the Father. Without the cross, there is no salvation. Jesus was willing to take his commands--up to a point--but not in something essential. "Get out of my sight!"

"Satan"--that's about as bad a word as he could call him--"You are a stumbling block."

You can see Peter beginning to shrivel up. "You do not take God's view of things, but man's."

Jesus knows how to administer a rebuke, to put somebody in his place, from the top man to the lowest. When we have moved out of our territory, he lets us know about it in no uncertain terms.

That humiliation must have hurt Peter. The words of Jesus pierced through him like a two-edged sword, right to the bottom of his heart. He did not have any comeback.

But Jesus was not satisfied with that. He turned on the other disciples ready to get rid of them, too, if they would not accept the doctrine of the cross.

"Look," he said, "if anyone wants to become my follower, let him deny himself and shoulder his cross. Only then may he be a follower of mine. Somebody who is bent on saving his life is going to part with it anyway. He who freely parts with his life for my sake will save it and secure it in the end. What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?"

Peter was really flattened. He needed some consolation. Notice how Jesus responds. He has given him a blow right between the eyes, and now he gives him a big consolation. The harder we fall, the higher we bounce.

Now comes the event called the Transfiguration--an over-whelming consolation for any man if there ever was one. Again, Jesus calls to himself Peter, James, and John, and they go up onto a high mountain. Jesus is transfigured before them. The glory that lay concealed in the depths of his soul started to stream down over his body. His face shone like the sun and even his clothes took on a unbelievable beautiful glow, like snow sparkling in the sunshine. Suddenly Moses and Elias appeared together with him talking to him about his death, which he was about to undergo in Jerusalem. The apostles were thrilled, of course, with the vision. The beauty filled their senses and their hearts with warm emotion. They wanted to linger there on the mountain and enjoy to the full the delightful feelings of consolation that seemed to penetrate to the very marrow of their bones.

Peter, as usual, had to say something. Silence was not one of his virtues. "Lord, it is well that we are here with you! If you would like, we will build three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elias."

Very hospitable of Peter to devise these special accommodations for Jesus and his guests, something no one had asked him to do.

While he was still speaking, a luminous cloud enveloped them and a voice rang out: "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him."

They fell on their faces, trembling, overcome with awe. After a while Jesus approached them. They were still scared to death and would not get up. But when he laid his hand on them and patted them, they looked up and saw only him.

The afterglow of that vision must have been tremendous. As they came down the mountain, Peter began to recover from his astonishment and awe. He was thinking how nice it would be to tell all the other disciples about the wonderful vision he had just enjoyed. How highly they would esteem him as one of the inside men!

Jesus turned to him and said, "There is one thing I want to add, Peter. Do not tell anybody about this vision until I have risen from the dead."

Jesus was already gently putting the lid on Peter's exuberance, but he did it in such a way as never to squash him.

To be continued

More information can be obtained by reading the book Crisis of Faith/Crisis of Love by Fr. Thomas Keating.  It is offered in our