Mark 11:1 – 10, 14:1 – 15 ;47
There’s a lot to digest in the gospel readings today. You notice that our readings more or less began with Jesus triumphantly entering Jerusalem, and ending with his horrible death on the cross. And in a way, that reflects part of the journey of faith, a journey that ends in Resurrection, but on the way, there are moments of trump and moments of deepest doubt.
Think of Peter -- Jesus some time ago designated him as the one who would be the rock of the Church. Peter was one of the first called to be an apostle. He had emerged as the spokesman for the apostles, and indeed the leader. And now it seemed as though the fact that he had left all to follow Jesus was finally being vindicated. As they entered Jerusalem, the crowds were wild. They were greeting Jesus like a conquering hero. Jesus wasn’t the first person to be welcomed with palms and clokes thrown on the floor. That was indeed the way a general who had won a great victory was welcomed. And Peter basked in the glow, his faith certain.
And at the last supper, when Jesus predicted that his disciples would abandon him, he was the first to insist that even if everyone else left him, he would never leave him. Peter’s faith was strong.
And then Peter falls asleep in the garden of Gethsemane, not once, but three times, if we are to believe the gospel story. It’s a hint of what is to come. Peter’s strong faith isn’t enough to keep his eyes open. Don’t you feel like that sometimes? You want to pray, you want to do what God is calling you to do, but your body and nature and the press of other things conspire to hold you back. Peter can’t stay awake.
And at the arrest of Jesus, Peter leaps to defend Jesus. In the other gospels we learn that he has a sword and cuts off the ear of the servant of the high priest. But the force is overwhelming and Peter and the others flee, leaving behind the young man who follows the arresting party for a bit, then runs away naked when they attempt to arrest him as well.
And finally that terrible scene in the courtyard; “You were with him!” says the servant girl. “No, not me,” replies Peter. “Yes, you were,” says a second. “No, really, girls, you’ve made a mistake,” replies Peter. Then some of the others join in. “We saw you with him when he came to town,” they insist. “May God strike me dead if I was with him,” Peter swears, and leaves his comfortable fire out into the night. (I was taking liberties with the dialogue, you might have guessed.”
Can you imagine how Peter felt when he and his fellow apostles were hiding in the dark, knowing that Jesus was slowly, painfully dying on the cross? Did Peter doubt? Did he wonder how he had ever proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah of God? Did he hate himself for not having been able to live up to his own promises, for running when he might have stayed by Jesus’ side?
When Mark wrote his gospel the serious persecutions of Christians had just recently begun. Many of them had fallen away. Some of them wanted to come back. Mark shows in his portrayal of Peter that Peter is not beyond redemption. We know the re3st of the story, which will be concluded next Sunday. But we are like Peter. When things are going well, we feel like we are on top of the world; but when something difficult is asked of us, we often fail. Some days we are full of faith, on others we doubt; and sometimes the doubt is painful.
In the original gospel of Mark, it ends with the young man in the tomb telling the women to tell Jesus' disciples that he will meet them in Galilee. And Mark in telling this story assures his readers that JEsus waitsfor us, Jesus uses our doubt to strengthen our faith; Jesus knows our weaknesses and forgives our failure if we but ask. YOu and I are Peter, if not today, sooner or later. And Peter is offered redemption over and over again. And so are you and I.
