Luke 22:31-32: And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail: and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."
So, this has been percolating in my brain. The above passage, as you may recall, is sometimes used as a defense of claims of papal infallibility, universal jurisdiction, what have you. Pope = most important guy stuff. However, let me just say what my thoughts were when I read the passage. We know that Jesus was foretelling Peter's denial of Him. But, Jesus had prayed for him, so that he would return to Christ. Which did also happen.
Righty-o. So, Satan sifts Peter, but Peter does repent of his sin in denying Christ and returns to Him. Whereupon the next part comes into play: Jesus' prayer that Peter's faith will not fail. It can't have been for *before* Peter denied Him, because if it was, then Peter would never have denied Him. *After* Peter's denial, his repentance, and his forgiveness, it was Christ's prayer that Peter's faith should never fail. And, so far as I am aware, it never did. He made errors, he was human, and also a Saint, but his faith in Christ never wavered. (It occurs to me that one might think St. Peter's faith wavered when he was leaving Rome and met Christ entering Rome, but there's no evidence that he was fleeing from a lack of faith. And, when Christ responded that He was going to Rome to be crucified again, St. Peter turned right around and went back to Rome and his own martyrdom. So...I don't believe that that would count. Of course, if someone does know of an instance where we have evidence that St. Peter's faith wavered, I'm certain they will kindly point me to it.)
Christ prayed that after Peter's return to Him, not only would his faith remain strong, but that he would strengthen his brethren. Why should that mean anything other than what it says? The line, 'The burned hand teaches best.' comes to mind. St. Peter's been there. He's *walked* with Christ. With *God*. Spoken to Him, called Him friend, called Him Master and Lord. And even then, he's fallen down and hidden in fear. And he's realized his mistake, and turned back to God. Of all people, St. Peter would understand fear and doubt and temptation, and the reward of surpassing them, and the pain of falling victim to them. Who better to help shore up his brothers' faiths than someone who can honestly say that they've been there, that they understand.
I always liked St. Peter. He was the most relatable of the disciples. I just always found him interesting.
ReplyDeleteLK,
ReplyDeleteHe is very understandable, isn't he? His flaws are just sort of out there for all to see, but since we all have them, it makes him easier to relate to as a person.
I enjoyed these kinds of posts where you read Scripture and try to make sense of it! Really, they are among my favorites and why I always enjoy your comments on my Matthew studies. You often have a slightly different perspective that helps me see familiar passages in a new way. I find this beneficial for my own growth and seeing past "blind spots" I may have.
ReplyDeleteRegarding this, I can see Peter's faith not failing post-filling of the Spirit at Pentecost, but why does this *for sure* mean his unwavering faith was transferable down a line of successors? Can't "strengthen your brethren" mean simply to do as we do every day where we encourage each other as we read and discuss Scripture? Can't we strengthen each other by encouraging each other when we are going through hard times and sharing ways God has taught us, made us joyful, proven Himself faithful? I find myself often up and down...yet I can be "strengthened" by something YOU say to me that encourages me that God is in control. Or something I read from Caraboska or LK or Suroor or any number of people. I guess for Catholics this strengthening means MUCH much more. (See I learned something from you again!)
"It occurs to me that one might think St. Peter's faith wavered when he was leaving Rome and met Christ entering Rome, but there's no evidence that he was fleeing from a lack of faith. And, when Christ responded that He was going to Rome to be crucified again, St. Peter turned right around and went back to Rome and his own martyrdom"
I didn't understand this. Jesus was crucified in Rome? And he was crucified twice? Is that Tradition because I can't think of any Scripture that teaches this. I thought once he went back to heaven, he didn't come back to earth to be crucified again. *perplexed face*
My pastor loves Peter....He's his favorite because he was so human. He doubted, he feared, he cursed, he was genuine humanity that God used greatly!
Enjoyed this!
Susanne,
ReplyDeleteThat was sort of my point, yes. I can see the passage pointing to St. Peter's faith being strengthened, but I'm not sure how it should be applied to all of his successors, or even if it could be, how that would translate into infallibility & universal jurisdiction.
'I didn't understand this. Jesus was crucified in Rome? And he was crucified twice? Is that Tradition because I can't think of any Scripture that teaches this. I thought once he went back to heaven, he didn't come back to earth to be crucified again. *perplexed face*'
Ooopps. Sorry. Catholic to Protestant translation issues, I think. :) The story is from the apocryphal Acts of Peter, which is a...second century document, I believe. It's a legend, and well known to Catholics, but I don't know that it holds the weight of Tradition or even tradition. A summary of it is:
'His friends had entreated the Apostle to save his life by leaving the city. Peter at last consented, but on condition that he should go away alone. But when he wished to pass the gate of the city, he saw Christ meeting him. Falling down in adoration he says to Him 'Lord, whither goest Thou?' And Christ replied to him 'I am coming to Rome to be again crucified.' And Peter says to Him 'Lord, wilt Thou again be crucified?' And the Lord said to him 'Even so, I will again be crucified.' Peter said to Him 'Lord, I will return and will follow Thee.' And with these words the Lord ascended into Heaven... And Peter, afterwards coming to himself, understood that it was of his own passion that it had been spoken, because that in it the Lord would suffer. The Apostle then returned with joy to meet the death which the Lord had signified that he should die.'
So it's not that Christ was crucified twice, by any stretch of the imagination. St. Peter was leaving Rome, going away from the martyrdom that was his destiny, and Christ appeared to him and showed him that it was his destiny to die in Rome.
OH, thank you for explaining that story! Very nice!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! I can't remember where I first heard it, but I like the story a lot. Very plausible, actually.
ReplyDelete