Today is April 15, Tuesday of Holy Week.
In today’s Gospel, we hear, “Simon Peter said to him, ‘Master, where are you going?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later'” (Jn 13:36).
Peter’s zeal is strong. As St. John Chrysostom says, “Great is love, and stronger than fire.” Peter does not know where Jesus is going or what his journey entails, but he is ready to go nonetheless. However, it is not yet time. Jesus does not destroy Peter’s hope, for Peter will one day follow Christ, but the time has not yet come. The Spirit must descend. The Church must be established. The Gospel must first be preached.
Time for us to follow
But it is time for us. What we do this week commemorates what happened in time over 2,000 years ago. We will walk through the Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ through the liturgy because it is unfolding within us. Our sufferings make up what lacks in the sufferings of Christ, as St. Paul says. We carry our crosses each and every day, not alone but in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. He has paved the way. It is time for us to follow.
During these days of Holy Week, let’s pray for that same zeal and love that filled Peter’s heart. He may have seemed impetuous and a little too bold, but excessive zeal is more easily forgiven than laziness and lethargy. Jesus takes up his cross. He asks you to follow him.
Let us pray,
Almighty ever-living God, grant us so to celebrate the mysteries of the Lord’s Passion that we may merit to receive your pardon. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
