Jesus Walks with Us, Even when We Don’t Notice
When we pair Acts 9 with the gospel of John chapter 6 we might conclude that they are connected by a direct line of logic. In John 6 Peter confesses that Jesus has become the anchor in his life. Other disciples had gone home when the words of Jesus tested them beyond their strength. But Peter confessed his rock-solid commitment with one simple rhetorical question: “Lord, to whom would we go?”
That seems to lead nicely to Acts 9, by which time Peter himself has begun to work the wonders that Jesus had once performed. But something’s missing here, because the line connecting the two stories is not at all direct. Lest we forget, somewhere along the way Peter had denied Jesus three times. Unlike the disciples who simply drifted back to their homes, in one of the most dramatic scenes in the New Testament Peter got angry and ran away. And it’s my guess that this was not the last time when Peter’s faith was shaken to its core.
For better and for worse, Peter’s story is our story, for one simple reason. The recipe for integrity demands self-awareness, a dollop of sacrifice, and not a little pinch of grit. Along the way there are lots of temptations to distract us, but Jesus sticks by us, no matter where the trail leads. Behold, he is with us always — yesterday, today and forever. And best of all, he walks with us, even when we don’t notice.
NOTES
+Today’s post is a variation on the sermon I delivered at the abbey Mass on April 20th. That happened to be our monthly day of reflection in the monastery.
+On April 19th I attended Saint John’s Day, which is an annual dinner that welcomes supporters of Saint John’s University. Unlike our usual custom of inviting soon-to-graduate seniors to speak, this time we invited our four alumni Rhodes Scholars to speak. It was an inspiring event.
+On Sunday afternoon, April 21st, I attended an organ recital in the abbey church, given by Brother Simeon Johnson of Conception Abbey in Missouri. This completed Brother Simeon’s course of studies in the School of Theology/Seminary at Saint John’s, and by it he earned a Master of Arts in Liturgical Music. He certainly earned his new title of Master that afternoon.
+During the past week I was prayer leader at the daily liturgy of the hours.
+I’ve always found the pathway to be a wonderful image of life with Christ. Some paths can be lovely and enticing, but each can have its own particular pitfall, as the photos in today’s post suggest. I took these photos years ago during a tour through the Cotswold villages in England.
A Monk's Chronicle 