“You’re thinking like a human,” Jesus tells Peter. Well sure—
how else is he to think? He’s just made a confession that he
believes Jesus is the fulfillment of all his people’s hopes and
dreams, which Jesus affirms. Yet the rebuke seems to dash it
all to bits. What kind of Messiah suffers and gets killed?
Moreover, who would want to follow such a Messiah, following
all the way to a similar horizon of pain? It makes no sense.
Jesus teaches his disciples gradually. Peter has to move
from being an obstacle to being a follower. The faith journey
starts with an invitation to trust. It grows while we experience
the beauty and joy of loving both God and neighbor. But the
ultimate growth in faith means trusting Jesus enough to follow
him even to the point where nothing makes sense, where
we can see only pain and sacrifice. It means trusting that
somehow, beyond that dark valley, life is waiting. Hope is
waiting. Joy is waiting.
We are human, and wishing to preserve life is a natural
reflection of God’s own dream for us. We need healers and
protectors and those who feed the hungry. This is how we
put faith into action. In a world marred by sin, Christians
bring the refreshing love of Jesus to those aching for restoration.
Though following him all the way may take us to difficult
places, we know our true and final destiny is to live with
him in glory.

Sr. Jeana Visel

Jeana Visel, OSB, is a Benedictine sister of Monastery Immaculate
Conception in Ferdinand, Indiana. She works at Saint Meinrad
Seminary and School of Theology and is author of Icons in the
Western Church.