In today’s Gospel, Peter rebukes Jesus and in turn Jesus rebukes Peter. I wonder how it felt to be Peter at that moment. He is confident enough in his relationship with the Lord to pull Him aside and rebuke Him privately (is Peter finally learning humility?). I also felt sorry for Peter. Here, perhaps for the only time in Scripture, Peter doesn’t act impetuously, at least not publicly. Here he is not making bold statements, jumping off of a boat or to conclusions, or otherwise extroverting all over the place. However, he does, once again, speak before thinking. He is impetuous but at least he does so here privately.
His reward? A public rebuke in front of the other disciples and followers of Jesus.
Why does Jesus do this? Why not rebuke Peter privately and not embarrass him? It is because it provides an opportunity to address an issue that He knew was in all of their hearts. He also knew that Peter could take it. I can imagine here Jesus shouting at Peter in a fierce tone simply to get everyone to look at Him and listen. It was probably more effective than a simple, “Amen. Amen“. But perhaps, and we do not know, He did so with a wink and a smile that only Peter could see.
The Lord rebukes me as well, often publicly, but I often forget that He does so out of love and I too miss the wink and smile. It as at these times that I must remember it is out of His deep love for me that He does so. It is public so that others too may learn from my failures and wrong thinking. Thankfully, the Lord is patient with me for I often don’t understand the rebuke or the love until much later, sometimes years!
I remember well the rebuke I received regarding my relationship with alcohol and how it was affecting my relationship with God and my family. It was harsh, almost cruel in my eyes. I was hurt, embarrassed, and angry. I missed His wink and smile at the time. Only later did I realize the love that was hidden within His rebuke. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, I made a promise I was unsure I could keep. Only with His grace have I been able to do so for more than 2 and a half years. Only with His grace am I now able to see His smile and wink in the rebuke. I feel as though this rebuke has also helped many others. It has improved my relationship with the Lord, my wife, and children.
Lord, you say to me so often, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does but as human beings do.” Help me to see more clearly your wink and smile in those rebukes and may the example you make out of me help others grow closer to you in some way.
Has God rebuked you in a way that hurt at first but now you clearly see His love? Let me know about it in the comments.
From the Saints: “Sometimes the only way the good Lord can get into some hearts is to break them.” – Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
James M. Hahn, Author 