Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
I must admit today’s gospel reading always makes me think of “Looney Tunes,” when Wile E. Coyote chases the Road Runner off a cliff only to realize after a few feet that he can’t walk on air. While St. Peter is the rock upon which the Church is built, the gospels are also peppered with his many failings. What always impresses me about St. Peter are both the honest intentions that precipitate his mistakes and the fact that they never dissuaded him from failing again. Near the beginning of his recent apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (a long document but worth the read) Pope Francis states, “God never tires of forgiving us, we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy.” Failure is a human inevitability. Today’s readings help us to see God’s eternal patience in the face of our many foibles.
The first reading, from the Prophet Jeremiah, has two parts. The first part is an uncomfortably frank condemnation of Israel’s failings. It lists a litany of punishments God has inflicted on his unfaithful people. The second part is God’s unrevoked promise to the same people. All that had been lost will be restored. It concludes with, “You shall be my people. I will be your God.” No sin is inconsequential. God’s grace is not a license. However, when we seek forgiveness, God’s mercy is inexhaustible.
The second reading, from the gospel of Matthew, describes one of my favorite images from the Bible. Sent ahead of Jesus, the disciples find themselves in the midst of a storm. In the midst of the storm, Jesus appears to them walking across the water. Peter, with his characteristic (initial) audacity, says, “Lord if it you, command me to come to you on the water.” Jesus beckons Peter to “come.” Peter follows suit, making it a good ways before he realizes his predicament and then begins to sink (Wile E. Coyote). Jesus, of course, rescues Peter, admonishes him a little, and they travel the remainder of the journey in peace. Peter failed. Yet, he also failed with more audacity than his frightened companions. If he had not taken those initial steps, he wouldn’t have tasted the power of faith. Jesus embraced him, even in, perhaps on account of, his failure.
These two passages are very different but also consonant. On one hand, God’s people sin sometimes with harsh consequences. On the other hand, even the best intentions often result in failure. Ultimately, be it sin or a failure to live up to our own ideals, God waits with the promise and embrace of inexhaustible grace.
Today let us ponder in our hearts how we may never tire of asking for God’s mercy.
Adam Sheridan