DAILY HOMILIES #Peter

Peter’s experience in Caesarea (the Gentile town where Jesus made Peter head of the Church) teaches us to avoid judging people (or looking down on them) because they are not yet baptised. It shows that Jesus is a good shepherd who makes room for everyone, regardless of nationality, tribe, creed, or race. Peter was shocked that the so-called “pagans” received the Holy Spirit as the early Christians gathered in the upper room on Pentecost Day.

Jesus taught that while the manna was earthly food (never satisfied), the bread from heaven truly satisfies. The people said, “Give us this bread always.” Jesus replied: “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35). In other words, to have Jesus is better than having the whole world. No wonder St. Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in God.” Only Jesus can give us true satisfaction. Stephen was not afraid of dying because He knew he had Jesus.

Every great tree starts with a seed. When you hold the seed in your hand, it takes faith to see the tree. The council never imagined that this group of uneducated fishermen would amount to anything. Philip said to Jesus: “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” (John 6:7). You don’t need two hundred denarii to start something great. Start with whatever is available, no matter how poor or inadequate it may seem. As Jesus prayed over the bread and fish, pray over the little you have and leave the rest for God.

The fact that the high priest and his council dared to face the men who miraculously vanished from prison and even threatened them teaches me that no matter how many battles we fight and win, our enemies will not rest. Satan knows how powerful God is, but he never stops waging battles with God’s children. Temptations never really end.

Peter’s failure that night was God’s way of telling Peter that he is called to be a fisher of men (not of fish). It was also God’s way of teaching him about divine providence. Are you experiencing failure in some aspect of your life? It is time to ask: “Am I doing what God wants of me?” If God has given you an assignment, it will be hard to succeed in something else if you abandon God’s call.

The man clung to Peter and John, and everyone ran together into Solomon’s portico. Peter addressed them: “Men of Israel, why do you stare as though we had made him walk by our power or piety?” Never worship God’s ministers; even the devil can heal in the name of Jesus Christ. On the other hand, never assume you are too small (or too sinful) to invoke the name of Jesus Christ. You don’t have to be ordained to be a healer.

In response to their question, Peter mentioned two points: a. “Repent and be baptised for the forgiveness of your sins” and b. “Save yourself from this crooked generation.” What sins are holding me down spiritually? If today we make up our minds to turn a new leaf, God, like the Prodigal Father, is ready to receive us. Today’s Psalm says: “His merciful love fills the earth.” One great saint said, “God is never tired of forgiving us; we are the ones who get tired of asking His forgiveness.” Never assume your sins are too much. Repent today and return to God, your first love. The second aspect of Peter’s recommendation is connected to the first: repenting means we save ourselves from the evils in the world.

Most of Jesus’ miracles happened in Galilee. Jesus worked his first miracle of turning water into wine at a wedding. There, Jesus healed the royal official’s son, the centurion’s servant, Peter’s mother-in-law, the ten lepers, the blind man, etc. In Galilee, Jesus walked on water, produced a coin from a fish’s mouth, and drove out demons. I realised that Galilee was not merely a geographical circumscription but a symbol of faith.

How do we make our proclamation of Christ’s resurrection concrete? a. Choose Jesus instead of Barabbas. b. Prioritise Jesus over money. (Do not sell Jesus for 30 silver coins.) c. Defend your faith in public. Don’t keep quiet when people ask what you believe. d. Don’t hate or envy anyone like the Jews who wanted Jesus dead by all means. e. Don’t follow the crowd (like Pilate); stand by your beliefs. f. Don’t build your faith on signs and wonders, as the people who wanted Jesus to jump down from the cross did. g. Forgive wrongs patiently, as Jesus said: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Spiritual Creativity is obedience to that tiny voice of conscience within us. It is following God’s commandments regardless of what society thinks. It is doing God’s will without questioning or arguing. The fact that the disciples were asking shows they had not used this room before. They did not even know what to expect, but they obeyed.

The moment Judas took the bread from Jesus and ate, “Satan entered him.” What does this mean? Judas was no longer on the fence; his mind was made up. Not even a morsel of bread (show of love) from Jesus could change his mind. The more I listen to the devil, the sooner I reach a point when I am no longer afraid of betraying God. At this point, I am more concerned about making more money (or whatever the devil promises) than loving God. I begin to act as one without conscience.

Judas used a kiss (i.e. a friendly signal) to identify Jesus. Jesus said to Judas, “Friend, why are you here?” letting Judas know that he was still his friend despite the betrayal. Jesus never held any grudge against Judas. Whether we like it or not, betrayal will come. The question is: how quickly are you willing to forgive your friends?