Thursday in Week Eighteen of the Ordinary Time.
After witnessing the glory of Jesus in the Transfiguration, as we celebrated yesterday, Peter should have known better than to discourage Him from embracing the Cross of Calvary, which was essential for our ultimate salvation. However, I believe he now understands far more than we can ever imagine, moving from the threefold denial of Jesus during the Passion journey to his threefold acceptance to love and die for Jesus as leader of the flock after his resurrection.
Scripture assures us that the voice of the Lord speaks with power and brings peace; His words are true and lead to eternal life. When we hear and respond to God’s Word with obedience, we begin to experience the peace it promises (Numbers 20:1-13). After the Transfiguration, Peter surely grasped this more deeply, having heard the Father’s voice and seen the radiance of Christ’s glory.
Obedience leads to life, while disobedience results in punishment. The choice is ours. Before the Transfiguration, Peter exemplified both paths: he rightly confessed Jesus as the Christ but faltered when he relied on human reasoning instead of faith, prompting Jesus’ strong rebuke, as we read from the gospel (Matthew 16:13–23). Guided by the Holy Spirit, we too can make the right choices, walking in obedience, coming into the light of Christ, the One in whom the Father is well pleased.