Words From Our Beloved St. Peter

What is a faith-filled person to think about the current state of affairs in our secular world?  Where can we go for advice, for encouragement, for inspiration, for truth?  How can we avoid the immorality and offensiveness that surround us?  There seems to be no “safe” place in which to contemplate the glory of God and the joy of the Gospels.  Today, I’m thinking about one place in particular where we can find uplifting and reassuring words.  These words come from Sacred Scripture, from the letters of St. Peter, the leader of the apostles and our beloved first pope, who, as depicted in the photograph, was given the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.  The early Christians were apparently experiencing similar discouraging and upsetting situations in the secular world of the first century.  Today, I am selecting two passages from his letters that I think are particularly helpful.

The first is from the first letter of Peter read at Holy Mass this past Monday (1 Peter 1:3-7).  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.  In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”  Ah, yes!  Our precious, genuine faith!  The message is to never let go of it no matter what.  We have this inheritance waiting for us, though we have to suffer through various trials, the glory of heaven awaits!

The second is also from the first letter of St. Peter and was read at Holy Mass yesterday (1 Peter 1: 22-25).  “Since you have purified yourselves by obedience to the truth for sincere brotherly love, love one another intensely from a pure heart.  You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and abiding word of God, for:  ‘All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the field; the grass withers, and the flower wilts; but the word of the Lord remains forever.’  This is the word that has been proclaimed to you.”  Yes, love is the key.  Things of this world wither and wilt, but our faith is with us forever!  We must love God intensely with all our pure heart, with all our mind, and with all our strength, and our neighbor as ourselves.

My prayer for today:  Lord, help us to see the immorality and offensiveness of the world around us for what it is and help us to adhere to our genuine and imperishable faith, to adhere to the true love of God and of our neighbor, so that we can ultimately enjoy the joy and glory of heaven.  Amen!