“If we are like Peter in his faults, we should strive to be like him also in his strong points,” he recommended.
The Bishop alluded to Simon Peter and Judas Iscariot; two personalities who feature strongly in the Gospel Reading for the daily liturgy for Holy Week, which is an extract from the Passion narrative. To him, both figures share some commonalities, but in another sense very different.
“They are alike in the sense that they both failed their Master, Jesus: Peter by denial and Judas by betrayal. However, they are totally different from each other by their reaction to Jesus after their failure; Peter was remorseful, he repented and continued in the Apostleship of Christ, but Judas was devastated, despaired and headed for perdition,” he explained.
Likening Peter’s ‘human’ character to that of each and every follower of Christ, the Chief Shepherd underpinned that Peter was eager; yet weak, he was sincere; yet faltering, devoted; yet for a moment fragile and disloyal. More importantly, Peter knew Jesus so well that he was quick to repentance and confident of forgiveness.
“My brother priests, I hope and pray that none of us will end up like Judas, but be like Peter,” he cautioned.
He further appealed to the consciences of his brothers, who, year after year at the chrism Mass, are eager to renew their priestly commitment, but often fail in carrying out these commitments.
“We are sincere in renewing our resolve but frequently we falter through human weakness. We are truly devoted to Christ but sometimes we may live almost as if we did not know Christ and his teachings,” he buttressed, recommending that if they are like Peter in his faults, they should strive to be like him also in his strengths.
Underscoring that Peter came to know Jesus well and had witnessed his love for sinners, and hence was confident of forgiveness, Bishop Asiedu called on his brother Priests, who have the same opportunity of knowing Jesus, just as Peter had, not to abuse the opportunity, but to trust in the love, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus, and be quick to return to him whenever they fall.
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (DEPSOCOM – AVD)
