PERFECTED IN WEAKNESS
Isaiah 22:19-23; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20
Duke Ellington – composer, pianist, and conductor – composed with each musician in mind. He said: “You keep their weaknesses in your head as you write, and that way you astonish them with their strengths.”
That’s the way God works with the leaders he chooses and with us: he keeps our weaknesses in mind and astonishes us with our strengths; he perfects us in weakness.
But why does God choose people with faults and foibles as leaders?
We have a response in this Sunday’s gospel! In response to Jesus’ question about his identity, Simon acknowledges him as the Christ. Jesus gives Simon a new name: Peter; and a mission: the foundation for the Church.
What kind of a foundation was Peter?
Soon after being named ‘rock’, Peter misunderstood the nature of Jesus’ mission. During Jesus’ passion, Peter denied him thrice. After the resurrection, Peter could think of nothing more productive to do than to return to fishing. Twenty years later, he withdrew from table fellowship with some Christians because they were Gentiles. By nature, Peter was not rock!
But the weak and human Simon became rock when he was open to divine revelation (“Blessed are you, Simon”), and when Jesus prayed for him (“Peter, I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail”). After Pentecost, Peter fearlessly proclaimed the gospel. He was imprisoned, tried, tortured, forbidden to preach… he did not stop preaching! Through grace, Peter became rock.
There is something of Simon in all of us. We misunderstand Jesus’ mission and words; we deny Jesus; we get engrossed in our career and work…
Yet God keeps choosing us, with and despite our weaknesses, and strengthens us to be his church. He perfects us in weakness. We will be rocks when we recognize our radical need for God and his grace.
Will I open myself to his grace? Will I allow him to perfect me?
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