My brothers and sisters, each of us, as members of God’s family, is on an incredible journey of faith. Today, we see two points on Peter’s journey. When it comes to traveling from one place to another, I am definitely geographically challenged – before GPS I made countless side trips in my travels, and often wondered if and when I would reach my destination.
When we look at the life of Peter, we see how God can lead us from uncertainty to confidence in living for Jesus.
In today’s Gospel and first reading, there’s an inspiring movement of Peter from one who questions, to one who proclaims Jesus to others. Peter’s transformation through God’s grace, as well as his saying 'yes' to God, is being offered to us as inspiration, and even more so, a calling, to reflect upon Peter's transformation during this year’s Lenten Season.
So, where are you on your journey? Are you an experienced traveler or are you new to the trail?
Are you like Peter, who says, "we have given up everything and followed you," and wondering what more you need to do?
Where is your family as a whole? Are you focused on making it to Heaven, are you helping one another to grow in holiness – and what do you have to guide and help you when you get lost?
Well, as I mentioned, I’ve gotten lost many times, and my family and friends could tell because suddenly I’d turn off the car radio so that I could focus on landmarks to help orient me.
Lent is a time when we turn off certain distractions, even good distractions, either entirely or at certain times, to help us take stock of our lives, beginning with God, our families, and our friends.
Many times, whether in a chapel, on the back porch, or in the quiet of our homes, when we turn off the distractions, it’s in that moment that we realize that we need to go to Confession.
It’s in the quiet with God, in prayer, in reading and reflecting on His Word, that we discover what we need to be forgiven for – so that we can remove what is holding us back from going where Jesus is leading us.
For some, this is a literal place, like Fr. Willy and Fr. Pinto traveling to Bangladesh and India; for others, it is a call to the priesthood, religious life, or married life.
And, for others, it is a deepening of our trust in God and how He is calling us to proclaim His Word through acts of charity, mercy, and teaching, beginning at home and then moving outward.
Yesterday, Fr. Leo pointed out that Jesus looked at the young rich man with love, just as He looks at you.
And, no matter where you find yourself today, it is the love of God and the belief that with God all things are possible, that propelled Peter.
We can look to Peter to inspire us to follow Jesus wherever He is leading us this day, always to something better than we could ever imagine, and always on the way to Heaven.
Amen.
Father David's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
Reverend David S. Marcham is the Vice Postulator for the Cause of Venerable Patrick Peyton, and Director of the Father Peyton Guild, whose members pray for Father Peyton’s beatification and spread his message of the importance of Family Prayer. Prior to becoming a seminarian, Father David was a physical therapist and clinical instructor, serving hospital inpatients and outpatients throughout the greater Boston area for eleven years. In 1998 he heard the call to priesthood and was ordained in the Archdiocese of Boston in 2005. Father David grew up in Quincy, MA, and has fond memories of playing soccer, tennis and running track. You’re never without a friend when Father David is around, as he welcomes everyone into his circle with a smile on his face!
