feast of St Peter

Homily on the feast of St Peter’s throne

Today the feast of the St Peter is relevant because the Church is ever living

It has no end. There was the storm and heavy rain over the church but it withstood. Once Jesus told that it is that one who made house on the rock is wise man because the storm struck and rain fall over it. It survived. Church is like that house built on the rock, who is Peter.

“All for Jesus” is the Book written by Frederic William Feber. He was professor in Oxford. Later he decided become Anglican Priest. It was known so many discouraged. Even William Wordsworth wrote to him that “ If you decided to join for priesthood I do not say it is wrong decision. But we will loose great persona in English Literature” he became a great writer in Spirituality. Peter was like this man.

Peter left everything for God. In the Gospel of Mark 10: 28, He asked Jesus. What shall we get? We left everything for u.  he is promised of persecution and eternal life. He added first will be last and last will be first.

·                    Peter was last but became first.

·                    He was the first apostle to be called by Jesus.

·                    He was the first to recognize Jesus as Messiah [ Mk 8 : 27-33]

·                    He was the first to receive the resurrection of Jesus. [ I Cor 15: 5]

·                    He was the first to proclaim the salvation to Gentiles[ Act 10]

·                    He was the first to prompt the writing of Gospel. Mark was the disciple of Peter.

Ø     He was the Original Man. Real Man who is very week and strong. He is was the man with pure heart but he was some times very sincere and at times he failed to be so. In the relationship in the Church in Antioch, first he ate with Gentile and then he rejected to eat with them.

Ø     First he recognized Jesus as Messiah. But later he rejected Him the sufferings of Jesus so Jesus rebuked him calling him Satan. This peter Habit and personality.

Ø     Therefore Jesus changed his name. He called him Peter[ rock]. This was meant to be the change of Peter. Jesus told Him that you have change your personality.

Ø     The Name, Simon  meaning is Njagna. It is inconsistency of Simon. He told him to be Rock like person.

Ø     Simon becomes Peter. He was struggling to become peter.

Ø     The Story of the Orange tree. The owner of the Orange field thought of destroying the Plant but he run the tractor over the plant but it was not destroyed so in the next year it gave abundant fruits,

Ø     Peter too failed to be sincere to his masters demand to be rock.

Ø     He said once to Jesus that we would make three booths in the time of transfigurations. He was unaware of the new Messiah. Therefore he was telling that old prophet and torah is still reining the world.

Ø     He rejected Jesus washing his feet. But later he asked him to wash him fully. Inconsistency of peter. 

Ø     He cut the ear of the Malchus the Servant of the high priest.  There he is called Simon peter which says that he is not changed and become peter. He also thought he can gain the Kingdom of God through the sword and violence.

Ø     U. R Ananda Murthi’s novel Bharathipuram gives us an example of the master’s touch. It says that influences the disciples. When Swami Vivakanada felt that he is totally lost when he touched the Master Paramahamsan.

Ø     Jesus told him that he would disown him before the Rooster crows twice at midnight. It is idiom. It says that it is fearful  hours of midnight.

Ø     For Peter it is twice happened. First when he was walking over the water. Jesus asked him to catch his hand. But second time he did not touch him but just looked at him. it was the time when the rooster crows second time. Hereafter Jesus only looks to us to change.

Ø     The Story of Qvadis Domine. Jesus goes back to Rome when the Rome was persecuted by Nero. He went back and died the crucified downward. Give the importance to Jesus in every thing even unto death.

Ø     Jesus asked him whether he loves him. He thrice repeated. He replayed that I love you. We all have to respond to Jesus like peter.

Ø     Jesus wants us to be rock like Peter where his church is glorified. John Paul II said that our homes are church. So we are small rocks where the church remains.