On Easter Sunday, after 40 days of Lenten and Holy Week reflections on the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ, we celebrated the Resurrection of the Lord. But more than that, we also celebrate our own resurrection to new life in Jesus, through our faith and our Baptism. The meditation below is from The Word Among Us magazine for Easter Sunday, March 27, 2005. The meditation takes a close look at Peter after the Resurrection, contrasting his negative self-view (because of his denial of Jesus) with the way that Jesus saw him. As you reflect on these words, allow Jesus to change any incorrect views you may have of who you are in him. Let the risen Lord reveal to you that you are a beloved son of His Father, his friend and brother.
As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, let’s take a look at the first man to walk into the empty tomb. Peter must have come to the tomb with many different feelings swirling in his heart, ranging from unspeakable hope that Jesus was alive to oppressive guilt at having denied him.
Seeing those linens neatly folded, Peter must have recalled his own actions that brought Jesus to such a horrible end. “First I bragged about my loyalty to him, and then I betrayed him. Now, if he really has been raised up, I have to face him. Jesus knows that I am a coward and a traitor. Will he take me back?” While Peter’s view was so negative, Jesus had a different approach. He looked inside Peter’s heart and saw the love as well as the weakness.
Try to imagine the first conversation between Peter and the risen Lord. “Why do you put up with me, Lord? I failed you!” “Peter, that’s all in the past now. I know your heart and I know your love. When the Spirit comes, you will be strengthened beyond what you can imagine. So be at peace. I want you to feed my sheep”.
Like Peter, we all have made boastful statements about our lives or about our faith. And we all have been embarrassed when reality confronted these claims. Surely we all have more than a little bit of Peter in us!
So what should we do during this Easter season, when go to see Jesus at Mass, receive him in the Eucharist, come to him in our times of prayer, or even when we cry out to him in times of crisis. First, let’s give up all of our negative views of ourselves. After all, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). Second, let’s listen to Jesus as he tells us how much he loves us and that he knows how much we love him. Let’s allow these close and loving words from Jesus to move us out into the world to feed his sheep, as Peter did.
“All praise to you, Lord Jesus! You have conquered sin and death. All praise to you, Son of God, for you have lifted me up to be with you forever!”
(Maurice Blumberg is Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men. This article is part of NFCM's sponsorship of the Catholic Man channel. Contact NFCM at P.O. Box 86381, Gaithersburg, MD 20886 or e-mail them at info@nfcmusa.org. Many thanks to The Word Among Us for allowing us to include in this article the March 27, 2005 meditation from the 2005 Lenten Edition of The Word Among Us magazine.)
Reflection Questions on Page 2
Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men
1. Do you believe that through faith and Baptism, you have received new life through Jesus’ death and resurrection? Why or why not? What are some examples of this in your life?
2. The second reading from the Easter Sunday Mass has this startling proclamation, “you were raised with Christ” (Colossians 1:1). What do you think these words mean? What about the following words, “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory” (1:3-4). How can you allow the truth of these words from Colossians to impact how you live out your day, especially when faced with temptations or difficult circumstances?
3. The Gospel reading from the Easter Mass says that John the apostle “believed” when he saw the burial clothes, even though he “did not yet understand the Scriptures that he had to rise from the dead” (John 20:9). Why do you think John was able to believe without any real understanding of the resurrection of Christ? How would you describe your own belief in the resurrection of Christ? How does your “belief” make a difference in your every day lives? Should it?
4. The meditation says that Jesus “looked inside Peter’s heart and saw the love as well as the weakness.” Do you believe that when Jesus looks at you he sees your love for him, in spite of your weaknesses and sin? Why or why not?
5. After reading the meditation, in what way are you like Peter in terms of how you view yourself compared to how the Lord views you?
6. At the end of your meeting, say together the prayer from the meditation and allow the truth of this prayer to melt your heart and deepen your love for Jesus.
