3/31/2015 – Tuesday of Holy Week – John 13:21-33, 36-38

        Peter says he wants to follow Jesus wherever he goes.  There is no way that Peter can anticipate what we await Jesus in this last step of his journey.  Even though Peter says that he would lay down his life for Jesus, it is easy to say those words, but another thing to face that reality.  I think of the many missionaries of the Church who gave up their lives for the faith. Many missionaries go into the field knowing that the dangers and challenges they face can mean that their lives may be quite short indeed.

        Peter denied Jesus three times before the cock crowed, but Peter also did eventually give up his life for the faith.  According to Christian tradition, Peter was crucified in Rome under the Emperor Nero.  Tradition holds that he was crucified upside down at his own request, since he saw himself unworthy to be crucified in the same way as Jesus.  Peter learned from his mistakes and continued on the journey of faith, being all the more stronger for it.   The main thing is for us to learn from our mistakes and missteps and wrong turns on our journey of faith. 
          Isaiah gives us a glimpse of the coming of Jesus in his prophecy today: “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”  The darkness in the world and in our lives can overwhelm us and overtake us at times, but Christ the light can lead us out of the darkness.  We may falter or make mistake, but the light is there to lead us in the right direction and to get us back of track.