VATICAN - “We too like Peter must continually convert, correct our course. We must follow Jesus, not precede Him: he shows us the way. It is the Lord who says to me, and says to you, follow me! We must have the courage and the humility to follow Jesus because He is the Way, the Truth and the Life”: Pope Benedict XVI chooses for his teaching the figure of St Peter

Thursday, 18 May 2006

Vatican City (Fides Service) - “In the new series of catechesis we started first of all by trying to understand better the Church, and the Lord’s idea about this new family of his - Pope Benedict XVI said as he began his Wednesday audience on 17 May - . Then we said the Church exists in persons and that the Lord entrusted this new reality, the Church, to the twelve Apostles. Now we shall take a look at them one by one to understand in each person, what it means to live the Church, to follow Jesus. We shall start with Saint Peter”.
The Pope said first of all that “after Jesus, Peter is the person most often mentioned in the new testament writings...he spoke with a Galilean accent. He, like his brother, was a fisherman... Which means he must have lived quite comfortably; he was deeply religious, and had a longing for God- he wanted God to intervene in the world- this desire led him to go with his brother as far away as Judea to listen to the preaching of John the Baptist”. Simon “was a believing, practising Jew, who trusted in the active presence of God in the history of his people … the Gospel tell us that Peter was one of the Nazarene’s first four disciples who were joined by a fifth, it was the custom for every Rabbi to have five disciples. When Jesus passes from five to twelve disciples the newness of his mission becomes clear: He is not just one of the many Rabbis, instead he has come to gather together the eschatological Jerusalem symbolised by the number 12, the number of the tribes of Israel.”
The Gospels depict Simon “with a strong impulsive character...but also at times naive and fearful, nevertheless he is honest, to the point of being sincerely repentant. The Gospels enable us to follow his spiritual journey step by step. The point of departure is his calling by Jesus. It happens on an ordinary day while Peter is busy with his fisherman’s work. Jesus says to Simon: ‘put out to sea and lower your nets for the catch. Simon the fisherman has confidence in this Rabbi who does not offer him answers but calls him to have trust in Him. Peter’s reaction to the miraculous catch of fish is one of astonishment and apprehension … Jesus responds to this inviting him to have confidence and to be open to a project which surpasses anything Peter might envisage: ‘Do not be afraid; from now onwards you will be a fisher of men’.” Simon “accepts this unexpected call to let himself be involved in this great adventure: he is generous, he realises his limits but he believes in the One who is calling him and he follows his the dream of his heart. He says yes - a courageous and generous yes -, and becomes a disciple of Jesus.”.
“Peter lives another significant moment on his spiritual journey near Caesarea Philippi, when Jesus puts a precise question to his disciples. Who do people say that I am?’... And Peter speaks for himself and the others: ‘You are the Christ. However Peter had not yet understood the profound contents of Jesus’ messianic mission... Peter wants a Messiah a ‘divine man’, to fulfil the expectations of the people imposing his power over all: we too want the Lord to impose his power and transform the world now; Jesus presents himself as the ‘human God, the servant of God, who shatters the expectations of the crowds taking a path of humility and suffering”.
“Peter in this way learns what it really means to follow Jesus. This is his second calling… he must be willing, if necessary, to renounce the whole world to save the true values, to save the soul, to save the presence of God in the world. Although it is hard, Peter accepts the call and continues the journey in his Master’s footsteps.” Pope Benedict XVI concluded underlining similarities in the behaviour of Peter and our own: “We too long for God, we too want to be generous, but we too expect God to be strong in the world and to transform the world now according to our ideas, to the needs we see. God chooses another path. God chooses the path of the transformation of hearts in suffering and humility. And we, like Peter must continually convert, correct our course. We must follow Jesus not precede him: It is He who shows us the way. So Peter says to us: you think you have the solution and that you must transform Christianity, but it is the Lord who knows the way. We must have the courage and humility to follow Jesus because He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 18/5/2006, righe 50, parole 773)


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