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We often recognize a certain tendency in
ourselves and in others that we call “over-enthusiasm.” The overly-enthusiastic
person usually “bites off more than he can chew.” He, or she, eagerly and
excitedly moves into some new project, being sure they can do it with ease. But,
later they discover there is much more involved in it than they had originally
thought. Over-enthusiastic people are inclined to volunteer first, and then
sadly realize they cannot carry out what their enthusiasm has committed them to.
We often say, then, that this type of person is “always falling on his face.”
Perhaps one of St. Peter’s most striking weaknesses was his over-enthusiasm. As
we see in today’s Gospel Reading, it was this that so often got Peter into
trouble. Here, Peter in his excitement, impulsively asks to walk across the
water. But, “when he perceived how strong the wind was, becoming frightened he
began to sink and cried out, “Lord save me!” Peter, as usual, had committed
himself to more than he could handle. But, our Lord immediately stretched out
his hand to catch the faltering Apostle.
The Last Supper, and the later tragic betrayal, is yet another example of St.
Peter’s tendency towards over-enthusiasm. Although he could not have been more
certain in his statement of support of Christ at the Last Supper, when faced
with just a curious servant girl, his courage rapidly faltered. We can feel very
close to St. Peter in all this. We might have said and done the same things in
an enthusiastic burst of faith, only to find, as he did, that such
over-enthusiasm does not hold up.
In today’s Gospel account, as in many others, St. Peter wins us by his
humanity—for he is so like us in his weaknesses. It is very consoling, then, to
realize that Christ chose him to be the first leader of the Church. Our Lord
singled out a man of obvious shortcomings, and therefore, a man very aware of
his human limitations.
We know that enthusiasm is necessary for a good leader. Christ understood this.
He also knew that Peter simply needed tempering, to become the “rock” St. Peter
proved to be after Christ’s Ascension. But we might also conclude that in
singling Peter out, Christ wanted to help us see our own weaknesses in a less
negative light. He hopes we can learn to accept them with patience, as Peter
did, and strive to achieve significant things; despite them.
It is deeply comforting, when we are frustrated and disappointed with ourselves,
to realize that St. Peter’s courage also grew faint. Even more reassuring, is
Christ’s constant understanding and support of St. Peter. We can be secure in
the knowledge that Christ extends the same warm hand to catch us whenever we
feel we may falter. As he understood and accepted Peter’s weakness, so he always
understands and saves us.