A HAPPY ENDING — DEPENDING ON US
Compared to the standard happy ending of fairy tales, that of our Gospel episode today surely isn’t one. But this one is specifically on the part of Jesus’ disciples only, as distinguished from the Twelve Apostles. In fact, there’s the saving grace with Peter’s solemn declaration of loyalty and commitment to Jesus on behalf of the Twelve.
Jesus wouldn’t really care much if dissent and defection were indeed to occur among His disciples. His is not a dictatorship, after all. What He clearly does is simply give His teachings and challenges, and then to poke us time and again by asking us a question or two. That much, and that alone. The ball is in our hands — with the answer that we will give or the stand we will take. There are no two ways about it. It’s an either-or situation. Will it be that of the disillusioned and cynical disciples? Or that of the determined and confident Peter?
According to some Gospel commentators, Peter’s declaration of loyalty here is the equivalent (in the Gospel of John) of his profession in Matthew 16:16. But reading further in the Gospel, we know that eventually Peter would also deny his Master (John 18:15-18, 25-27). Does that make him like those who fell out in their following of Jesus?
Perhaps not. In fact, it is an entirely different case. No solemn pronouncements of loyalty and fidelity (think of religious professions, for example) are ever intended to be instant guarantees anyway. At least Simon Peter was truthful and honest, and eventually remorseful and repentant when he failed.
And so in our case, the proverbial happy ending really depends on God — and on nobody else but us, of course. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB
REFLECTION QUESTION: How confident are you that your relationship with God has a happy ending?
Lord God, help me to be always faithful to You. May this faithfulness lead to my eventual union with You in heaven.
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