……from the Pastor’s Desk…
“Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples,
rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
This is part of this Sunday’s Gospel. It is one of those Scripture passages that leaves people somewhat puzzled. What is going on here with the man who would become the first Vicar of Christ and THE CHRIST Himself? Peter loves Jesus, and Jesus knows it, which makes Peter’s opposition all the harder for Jesus to face, but face it He does – sternly.
Jesus is agonizing over what must happen to Him and He needs all the support He can get, but even when that support appears to evaporate, He does not falter. He remembers His mission, His vocation, and He stays on message. He stays true. What a remarkable model and source of strength He is for us.
When Jesus calls Peter a “Satan,” it is not necessarily the same thing as “devil.” The word is not a Proper Noun like someone’s name. Satan’s actual name was Lucifer. Remember, he was an Archangel. The Angel of Light – who became the Prince of Darkness – and wants to bring as many souls as possible into that darkness – in subtle and not so subtle ways. He lures us. He tempts us with the weakness of our past sins. Lucifer became the ‘Tempter’ and thus the title Satan was ascribed to him, “Satan” translates to “tempter.”
And in the scenario, we just heard Peter was tempting Jesus to not do what He just said He must.
Throughout His life, Jesus had a constant temptation to be the kind of Messiah people wanted and expected. In the temptations after His baptism and fasting, the devil tempted Him to do the spectacular “…throw yourself down from the temple and then save yourself.” On Palm Sunday, they wanted to make Jesus king; that would have been an easy way out. In the ordeal of the Passion, Jesus asks His Father to take this cup from Him: He did not want to suffer! But suffer he did…
Here Jesus tells the disciples that He is going to suffer and die. Peter argues that this is not what a Messiah is supposed to do; He is supposed to triumph over any suffering and death. It was a temptation! Peter was a tempter. Jesus tells him to “Get behind me.” This may mean “Get back in line” or “Come back and get with the program.” Or “stay on track”. It may also mean “Get out of my sight, you tempter.”
Perhaps it means all of these. Let us reflect. We, too, are tempted daily, in subtle and not so subtle ways. Let us not let him (or her?) get to us.
Do not get distracted, do not forget your calling, your mission, and do not let anybody pull you away from what you know you are about.
But if you have – now is the time… to get back with the program.
Father Ron
