***
Gospel: Mark 8:27-33
Jesus and his disciples set out
for the villages of Caesarea Philippi.
Along the way he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that I am?”
They said in reply,
“John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others one of the prophets.”
And he asked them,
“But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said to him in reply,
“You are the Christ.”
Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.
He began to teach them
that the Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed, and rise after three days.
He spoke this openly.
Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples,
rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
***
***
Many of us remember Billy Graham, one of the most popular American preachers of the 20th century.
He once shared a story about his wife, Ruth, who was driving through a construction zone on a highway for several miles. After carefully following the detours and warning signs, she came to the last sign that read:
“End of construction. Thank you for your patience.”
Struck by the message, she went home chuckling, telling Billy that she wanted that line engraved on her tombstone. And when the time came, it was.
“Ruth Bell Graham. June 10, 1940 – June 14, 2007. End of construction. Thank you for your patience.”
***
Like Ruth Graham, we’re all a work in progress.
***
Just consider Peter in today’s Gospel. He experiences an incredible high – and a dashing fall from grace – in six short verses.
While Peter successfully identifies Jesus as the “Christ,” he doesn’t understand what that means; he doesn’t want Jesus to suffer.
It seems Peter doesn’t have God – or his plans – figured out after all. But after being rebuked, he doesn’t give up; Peter trusts Jesus and continues to follow him.
Though unsure where his path is leading, Peter’s heart remains open.
***
There are times when we all struggle to understand who Jesus is – or why God’s plans for us unfold in a certain way.
But even when we stumble like Peter, remember, we’re just a work in progress.
Thank you for your patience.
***
***
Image credits: (1) Marks Paneth (2) St. Peter in Prison, Rembrandt (3) Association of Professional Builders