MEDITATION TIP —
Third Sunday of Easter April 14, 2024

“I know, brothers, that you did that thing because of your ignorance, as well as your leaders did” (Acts 3:17).

　The “brothers” that Peter refers to here are the people of Israel, and the “that thing” is Jesus’ crucifixion. But he must have known that the “brothers” to whom Peter was speaking included himself. Peter, too, in his ignorance, had abandoned Jesus on the night of His Passion, and he too had been one of those who had driven the nails into Jesus’ hands and feet. The resurrected Jesus himself appeared to Peter and his disciples and did not condemn their treachery at all, but simply said, “Peace be to you” (Luke 24:36), never mentioning their sinful past. This event and the following descent of the Holy Spirit changed the disciples’ human nature 180 degrees, and Peter preached powerfully, just as he does today in the Acts of the Apostles.

　That did not mean that Peter’s weaknesses and shortcomings were overcome thereafter. Peter must have lamented his weaknesses and shortcomings many times over the years. But then, he probably never thought he would be bold enough to preach in front of people. The greatest discovery, the greatest surprise for a person, is to realize that what he thought he could not do, he actually could do it” (Henry Ford). Peter gradually realized that something great had been given to him, and he challenged himself to play his own game of life through the preaching of the Gospel. It is the game of life in which he makes the most of this great power. However, the start of the game of life was that “one’s strength begins with the acceptance of one’s weakness.” We must not imitate the strong in an attempt to be strong. God is present in the weakest and ugliest parts of ourselves.

　“Look hard at your weakness and be fully aware of what it looks like. But don’t let weakness control you. From weakness let us learn patience, a tender heart, and the power to see things through” (Helen Keller). In this way, Peter must have learned from his weakness to have the presence of mind to be willing to be slandered, just as Jesus was slandered by people. “The greatest response to slander is to shut up and work hard” (George Washington).

　Life is a school, and every event is an experiment. The more experiments, the better, for human growth. If you fail, start over again. Coach Katsuya Nomura, who led the once-weak Yakult baseball team to several league championships and the No. 1 position in Japan, once said, “Failure translates into growth.” “I never let myself be disheartened. Whatever the failure, it is a new first step” (Thomas Edison).

　When Peter approached the goal of his life game, he knew he had not yet reached Christ. His death must have been the death of the “Great Unfinished” who wanted to continue growing forever, knowing that he still had more work to do.

 　　　　　(Contributed by Father Akabae)