Oh Peter, and You the Future Pope!

Psalm 30, 32 • Psalm 42, 43
Joshua 6:1-14 • Rom. 13:1-7 • Matt. 26:26-35

My best response to this morning's reading of Matthew's account of the Last Supper is to refer you to our rector Evan's in-depth, three-week June 2020 online Sunday study of the first Eucharist as described by St. Paul as well as all the gospel writers. Evan summarizes the history of our understanding and practice of the Eucharist and concludes with a description of the various attempts of online services to offer some substitute for our celebrating the Eucharist in the flesh as one united body of Christ. 

That leaves me to write once again about Peter the Impulsive, as Elliott West calls him in the Morning Reflection for 30 June, the day I am writing this. I chose Peter as my Confirmation patron saint when I was 12, and have never regretted that choice. In answer to Jesus' “This night, Peter, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice,” Peter swears, “Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee.” Matthew adds, in testimony to the leadership skills which will be useful to Peter when he becomes pope, “Likewise, also said all the disciples.”

The lesson for myself here is that I really don't know what I would do when under terrible pressure: whether I would have denied and betrayed my Jewish friends in Nazi Germany when all my neighbors were playing it safe and betraying theirs; whether, trying to hold back a throng of angry protesters, I would fire canisters of tear gas into their midst; whether, when the time comes, I will accept my dying with peace and gratitude for the good life I have had. 

Dear Peter, a more realistic promise would have been, “I will try not to deny you.” And I myself will ask the Holy Spirit to help me keep my promises, as she helped you in the days of your imprisonment and martyrdom.

Written by John DuVal

John has been compiling, for family and friends, a small anthology of great poems by African-Americans. The anthology started with many poems he has taught in the Introduction to Poetry course he teaches at the University of Arkansas.