First Prelude: Picture St. Peter at the moment when he again beholds his Divine Master.
Second Prelude: O Divine Saviour, replenish my heart with the sentiments of humility, contrition, and love, that animated Thy Apostle on beholding Thee.
FIRST POINT
THE LOVE OF OUR LORD FOR PETER
After the reproachful, but mild and forgiving, glance of Jesus in the house of Caiphas had penetrated Peter, he did not cease, with the bitterest tears, to bewail his cowardice. Now Jesus wishes to console this humble penitent; Magdalen was the first among the women to behold the risen Saviour, so Peter was the first among the men vouchsafed such an extraordinary grace.
Two penitents were thus highly favored by our Divine Lord. Was it not that sinners might be moved to love our Lord the more, the more they had offended Him? Dare they not expect greater favors from Him if they serve Him with a contrite and humble heart? Oh, the admirable generosity of the Master! Hardly has He quit the tomb when He bids the women by the mouth of His angel: “Go and tell my disciples and Peter that I will go before them to Galilee.” Peter is mentioned by name, that he might not in the least doubt His Lord’s fullest pardon; that having denied His Master he might know that Jesus, nevertheless, would not deny him. What sentiments may have swayed the heart of Peter on beholding His beloved Master? Oh, the happiness of the disciple on receiving from the lips of his Master assurance of pardon, which suddenly flooded his depressed spirit with the purest Easter joy!
Does not Jesus encourage us to boundless confidence through the mercy shown to Peter? Let us banish even the slightest temptation to mistrust. In imitation of our good Master let us, also, seek to bestow an especial love upon those who may have grieved or offended us.
SECOND POINT
WHY WAS PETER VOUCHSAFED A SPECIAL APPARITION?
What profound wisdom lies at the bottom of this particular apparition! At the Last Supper Jesus had said to the Prince of the Apostles, in the presence of the rest: “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and thou being once converted, confirm thy brethren” (Luke 22, 32).
Now the moment was come when Peter should be grounded in the faith that was never to be shaken. Jesus vouchsafed it to him in this hour. He convinced him of the truth of His resurrection, instructed him personally, and thus laid the foundation of His Holy Church. “And I say to thee; ‘Thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it’” (Matt. 16, 18). The Saviour will soon appear to the other Apostles, and Peter, though especially favored, will also be among them to share in all the graces imparted to them. Having heard through Peter of the apparition, the other Apostles at once declared beyond doubt what they had formerly discredited when told them by the holy women. “The Lord has truly risen and appeared to Simon Peter,” they said to the disciples, returning from Emmaus. Such respect and influence was accorded from the very beginning to the decision of Peter, the head of the Church. Good children of Holy Mother Church have from time immemorial displayed this same readiness to submit to the representative of Christ, the successor of St. Peter.
Let us thank God for having called us to the communion of saints on earth, for constantly vivifying and strengthening our faith through the Vicar of Christ in the Chair of St. Peter. Oh, the misfortune of those who have culpably forfeited this inestimable grace! Must we not with profound humility petition God to strengthen our faith ever more, that we may walk worthy of our holy calling as becomes devoted children of Holy Church! Let us prove our gratitude for the priceless gift of faith by praying fervently for those who have lost it.
Affections: Blessed be Thou, O God of goodness and mercy, that Thou didst appear to Thy penitent disciple, with Thy own lips to assure him of pardon and flood his soul with an abundance of peace and grace. Praised be Thy Divine Wisdom for manifesting to him before all others Thy glorious resurrection, the foundation of our holy faith!
O Holy Apostle, we offer thee our felicitations to the happiness of being so highly favored by thy Divine Master. Obtain for us the reverence and humility, the burning and ineffable love that filled thy heart on beholding thy Lord and God. Confirm in us faith, hope, and gratitude, that we may say with the Psalmist: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, Who forgiveth all thy iniquities, who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee with mercy and compassion” (Ps. 102).
Resolution: I will strive to atone for my past faults by greater love.
Spiritual Bouquet: “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart.”
Prayer: Soul of Christ…
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