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Holy Father Talks on
Peter's Path
Pope Benedict VXI presented two key scenes of St. Peter's
life on his most recent weekly cathechesis to more that 45,000 people
at the St. Peter's and retraced that saint's spiritual journey to
draw a lesson to everyone. That is, to follow God's plan and not
transform them with our human desires.
The Pontiff first portrayed Peter's character as faithful and impulsive.
He said that Peter was a faithful Jew who believed in God's active
presence in the history of his people. He was ready to make his
opinions felt even by force yet at the same time he was occasional
naïve and fearful yet honest and capable of sincere repentance.
Secondly, the Pope tackled on Peter's commitment to follow Christ
which was actually a second calling. When Christ sad, “If
any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his
cross and follow me”, Peter accepted these words and his second
conversion.
Reviewing Christ's call to Simon and his first steps following
the Lord, the Pope said that, initially, "Peter wanted as Messiah
a 'divine man,' who fulfilled people's expectations, imposing his
force upon everyone."
"We also want the Lord to impose his force and transform the
world immediately," the Holy Father acknowledged. However,
"Jesus presented himself as the 'human God,' who overturned
the expectations of the multitude, by following the path of humility
and suffering."
"We must follow Jesus and not precede him. He shows us the
way," he said. "Peter tells us: You think you have the
recipe and that you have to transform Christianity, but the Lord
is the one who knows the way. It is the Lord who says to me, who
says to you, 'follow me!'
"And we must have the courage and humility to follow Jesus,
as he is the way, the truth and the life." |
“Jesus’
Baptism”