This is the third in a series of articles on The Transforming Power of Prayer. The first article discussed how spending time with Jesus in prayer can transform us more and more into his image and likeness. The second article by Fr. James Martin, SJ provided an easy way to have a 15-20 time of prayer in the evening, using a method of prayer and examination of conscience associated with St. Ignatius of Loyola. This article will takes a look at how prayer transformed St. Peter into a man of God, the "Rock" that Jesus called him to be.
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:13-19)
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, "God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." (Matthew 16:21-23)
Concerning this salvation, prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and investigated it, investigating the time and circumstances that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the glories to follow them. (1 Peter 1:10-11)
But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let no one among you be made to suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as an intriguer. But whoever is made to suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed but glorify God because of the name. (1 Peter 4:13-16)
Peter recognized who Jesus is and proclaimed him before all the other apostles. Peter grasped the stupendous fact that Jesus was not just a prophet or a wonder-worker but the anointed Messiah, "the Son of the Living God." And he didn't come to this knowledge on his own. It came by listening to the Father's voice.
However, the fact that Peter had received a magnificent revelation about Jesus did not mean he understood everything about Jesus' mission. Only a short time later, Jesus put this "Rock" of the church in the same league with Satan! Peter couldn't grasp that the Messiah had to suffer and die like a common criminal. And, despite his having just proclaimed Jesus as the chosen one on a special mission from God, he couldn't accept Jesus' words about precisely how that mission was going to be completed.
We should all be able to identify with Peter's split personality. After all, we have the same kind of conflict within ourselves. We may know the truth about who God is and how we should live, but our words and actions don't always correspond to it — not to mention our fundamental philosophy of life!
The good news is that like Peter, we too are on a journey of transformation. If we too have a regular time of prayer with the Lord, the Holy Spirit will gradually transform us. If we make it a practice to examine our consciences and repent of our sins, we will find ourselves more apt to fight temptation as men of God — and we will grow closer to the Lord.
1 Peter, written decades after Peter's many mistakes when Jesus was with him, is proof that God is capable of transforming us as we spend time with him in prayer. In this letter, Peter not only speaks of "the sufferings destined for Christ" (1 Peter 1:11); he also tells his readers to rejoice to the extent that they share in these sufferings (4:13). This is the same Peter who said Jesus shouldn't suffer — the same Peter who was fearful when he came to him on the water, and who denied him three times.
If Peter could be transformed so dramatically by spending time with the Lord in prayer, we should expect no less for ourselves!
"Lord, thank you that you are as patient with me as you were with Peter! I believe that you want to transform me just as you transformed Peter. May I always be open to the promptings of your Holy Spirit. May I grow more like you as I come to you every day in prayer."
Many thanks to The Word Among Us for allowing us to adapt material from daily meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.
Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men
1. The Scripture passages at the beginning of the article show a significant change in how Peter viewed the sufferings of Christ? To what extent do you believe that prayer played an important role in this change?
2. How has prayer changed your view of Christ's suffering and your call to share in that suffering?
3. In the article, we hear these words, "If we too have a regular time of prayer with the Lord, the Holy Spirit will gradually transform us." What steps can you take to open yourself up more to the transforming work of the Spirit when you pray?
4. The article ends with these words, "If Peter could be transformed so dramatically by spending time with the Lord in prayer, we should expect no less for ourselves!" Do you believe that you will be "dramatically" transformed as you come into to the Lord's presence in prayer? Why or why not?
5. If you are in a men's group, end your meeting by praying to the Lord that each of you would be transformed into the man of God that you have been called to be. Use the prayer at the end of the article as the starting point.
