From foundation rock to stumbling block. Simon Peter is filled with excitement and purpose as Jesus has just given him some very serious props about being the leader and foundation for the Church. He is ready to go “full steam ahead” in establishing the Kingdom and seating Jesus on his rightful throne. Peter has some ideas and plans for the future and he rushes ahead to take up his place as leader of the Church. Unfortunately he has not yet learned an important principle of the spiritual and divine life: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.” (Is 55,8f) The itinerary for the journey that will lead us to heaven is not “my way” or “my thoughts” but rather, it is established in God’s ways and his thoughts. Jesus is the Way that will lead to the eternal home of the Father. Jesus begins to reveal to his disciples that “his way” passes through the Passion and follows the Way of the Cross. The Kingdom of God will not be established through conquest but rather through abandonment. A true leader of the Church will have to abandon himself to the will of the Father and with great faith and trust will have to let go of control and allow himself to fall into the merciful hands of the Father. Peter will discover the truth that is revealed in the Book of Hebrews: “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb 10,31) The Way of suffering and death seems absurd to Peter and he rebukes Jesus and expresses his objections to him. Jesus quickly turns on Peter and calls him out for putting his plans, ways and thoughts ahead of the Father’s ways and thoughts. “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do” (Mt 16,23) How quickly the newly established “foundation stone” has become a “stumbling stone” when that stone has detached itself from the ground of God’s mercy and love. When the “rock” stands alone it becomes an obstacle rather than a solid foundation.

Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah as the Teacher who will show his disciples the Way that leads to salvation and to eternal life in the Kingdom. “No longer will your Teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher, while from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears: “This is the way; walk in it,” when you would turn to the right or to the left.”(Is 30,21f) Jesus speaks about his hour that is coming and his need to abandon himself and trust in the Father’s plan for salvation: “”I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.”…Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”” (Jn 12,27-32) To be “lifted up” Jesus must first “lay down” his life.

Peter will have to learn a new way of walking in the Way of the Lord if he is to be a true leader of the Church. If one wishes to get ahead then one must walk behind. As John the Baptist taught, “He must increase; I must decrease.” (Jn 3,30) Fullness comes from emptying. (Phil 2,6-11) One will find his life by losing it: “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Mt 16,25) Glorification comes through humiliation. (Phil 2,6) New life and resurrection comes through death. We are meant to become nothing so that God may become all: “When everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.” (1Cor 15,28) As Paul exhorts us, “Become sober as you ought and stop sinning. For some have no knowledge of God; I say this to your shame.” (1Cor 15,34) Peter doesn’t know anything yet, but he will soon learn the paradoxical nature of God’s ways.

Suffering seems absurd to us until it is united to the sacrifice of the Cross. In the light of the cross, we are able to see the love of God revealed. “Love is patient” (1Cor 13,4) means that love suffers long and a love that suffers long is a love that “never fails”. (1Cor 13,8)(Jon Bloom) Peter must learn first this long-suffering love if he is to be the rock of foundation for the Church.