THE TRANSFORMATION OF PETER

THE TRANSFORMATION OF PETER

            The day after Christmas is the Feast of St. Stephen, the first person to die for Christ.  If Easter were on a permanent date, the next day would be the Feast of St. Peter because it is Peter, so thoroughly human, who represents us all, no super powers, rough, outspoken, hardworking and deeply spiritual, who made one mistake after another as he struggled to understand Christ and be the disciple he wanted to be. He must have felt that he was always wrong.  His final failure, his denial of Jesus could have sent him out to join Judas but it didn’t.  Peter was made of stronger stuff.  Even though he was undoubtedly suffering, he acted as leader, keeping the disciples, men and women, together in prayer and hope in the upper room. When Mary brought the news that Jesus was no longer in the tomb, Peter was the first one out the door, never mind the danger.  Jesus had chosen him to be leader and leader he would be. 

            The transformation of Peter is evident in the first pages of the Acts of the Apostles, which follow the Gospels.  The fearful Peter becomes a powerhouse of faith immediately after the descent of the Holy Spirit.  He would preach to anyone, at any time, in the streets or in the Temple precincts, the Good News. He did not shrink from placing the blame for Jesus’ death squarely on the shoulders of the officials and citizens of Jerusalem.  Those officials called him and John before them and ordered them to cease speaking the name of Jesus and Peter replied:

             “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you   be the judges.  It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and        heard.”

           

The power of the Holy Spirit was evident the day Peter was going into the Temple and was asked for alms by a crippled beggar.  Peter replied:

            “I have no gold or silver to give you but I will give you what I do have.”

With that, he touched the man and healed him.  It wasn’t that the Holy Spirit changed the disciples’ natures, but rather the Spirit enlivened the gifts that God had already bestowed on them from birth. Gifts that Jesus recognized when he chose them, as we see in Peter’s compassionate reaction to the beggar and his leadership of the faithful.  The Spirit acts the same in everyone. We all have those gifts, and most of us have received the Spirit, therefore it follows that we too, should find it impossible not to speak about the Lord.

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin OPA