ACC ~ John 13 v37

BEING AFRAID OF DEATH IS WHAT KILLS YOU

AUGUSTINE: Peter had earlier answered the Lord out of a kind of proud self-assurance when he had told him, “I will lay down my life for you.” He had not yet received the strength to carry out that promise. Now, in order to be able to do so, he is already filled with charity. That is why he is asked, “Do you love me?” And he answers “I do,” because it is only charity that can carry it out. So how do things stand, Peter? Dying is what you were afraid of. He is alive and talking to you, the one you saw dead. Do not be afraid of death anymore. It has been conquered in him whose death you dreaded. He hung on the cross, he was fixed there with nails, he gave up the spirit, he was struck with a lance, laid in the tomb. That is what you were afraid of when you denied him, afraid you would suffer this. And by fearing death you denied life. Understand the truth now: when you were afraid of dying, that is when you died. SERMON 253.3. [1]

[1] WSA 3 7:149**; SC 116:330.

JESUS LETS PETER LEARN HIS OWN WEAKNESSES

CHRYSOSTOM: [Jesus says to Peter], You shall know from this temptation that your love is nothing without the presence of the impulse from above. From this it is clear that in caring for him, Jesus allowed Peter to fall. Jesus wanted to teach him by what he had said earlier, but in the face of Peter’s vehemence, [1] Jesus did not throw or force him into his denial but rather left him alone in order that he might learn his own weakness. … Since Peter is in the habit of contradicting Jesus, Jesus next teaches him not to oppose him. … In every way, Jesus teaches Peter humility and proves that human nature by itself is nothing. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 73.1. [2]

[1] See Mt 16:22; Jn 13:8.

[2] NPNF 1 14:267-68**.

PETER PROMISES MORE THAN HE CAN FULFILL

AUGUSTINE: Peter promised he would die for him, and he was not even able to die with him. He had staked more, you see, than his credit could stand. He had promised more than he could fulfill, because it was in fact unfitting that he should do what he had promised. “I will lay down my life,” he said, “for you.” But that is what the Lord was going to do for the servant, not the servant for the Lord. So as he had staked more than he was worth, he was then loving in an inverted sort of way; that is why he was afraid and denied Christ. Later on, though, the Lord, after he has risen, teaches Peter how to love. While he was loving in the wrong way, he collapsed under the weight of Christ’s passion. But when he was loving in the right way, Christ promises him a passion of his own. SERMON 296.1. [1]

[1] WSA 3 8:203*; MiAg 1:401.

PETER WANTS TO LEAD

AUGUSTINE: The blessed Peter, as we have just heard, is ordered to follow. And yet he had originally been thinking of going ahead when he said to the Lord, “I will lay down my life for you.” He was so sure of himself that he was unaware of his fear. He wanted to go ahead of the one he should be following. It was a good thing he was eager to do, but he did not keep to the right order. SERMON 297.1. [1]

[1] WSA 3 8:216; PL 38:1359.

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