Fore-feast of the Procession of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord; Holy and Just Eudocimus (840)
Read
1 Corinthians 10:12-22; Matthew 16:20-24
Prior to today’s reading Peter was installed as the spokesman and Chief for the Apostles. He was affirmed as the one who made the good confession of Christ as the ‘Son of the living God.’ He received the keys of the Kingdom and the authority to bind and loose on earth and heaven. This Peter was rebuked by Christ and called ‘Satan!’ Peter took on a worldly attitude and thus became an adversary to the Lord; in other words, his words were focused on trying to prevent Christ from accomplishing the work of salvation through the cross. It is for this reason that Christ says, ‘get behind me…’ since Peter attempted to teach Christ and so overstepped his place. This rebuke was instructive and oriented at helping Peter repent. To humble and remind him that first and foremost he is Christ’s disciple and not his teacher.
We often repeat Peter’s mistake when we bring worldly attitudes, ambitions and standards into our hearts, homes and churches. Instead of holding a humble attitude of discipleship we come ready to tell the Lord what needs to be changed and how he aught to change it. The humble disciple, who embraces his cross, instead asks the Lord, ‘how can I change to better become a vehicle of grace?’ Humility is what protects us from this fall. We must always remember that: He is our Creator and we are his creatures. He is our Healer and Saviour and we are wounded and in need of salvation. He is our teacher and are his students.