How At Supper He Foretold The Scandal Of His Disciples, And Peters Denial Of Him




How at supper he foretold the scandal of his disciples, and Peters denial of him.

GOSPEL

And there was also a strife amongst them, which of them should seem to be the greater. And he said to them: The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and they that have power over them, are called beneficent. But you not so: but he that is the greater among you, let him become as the younger; and he that is the leader, as he that serveth. For which is greater, he that sitteth at table, or he that serveth? Is it not he that sitteth at table? But I am in the midst of you, as he that serveth: And you are they who have continued with me in my temptations: And I dispose to you, as my Father hath disposed to me, a kingdom; That you may eat and drink at my table, in my kingdom: and may sit upon thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Luc.22.

Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You shall seek me; and as I said to the Jews: Whither I go you cannot come; so I say to you now. A new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another.By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another. Simon Peter saith to him: Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered: Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow hereafter.Peter saith to him: Why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thee. Jesus answered him: Wilt thou lay down thy life for me? Amen, amen I say to thee, the cock shall not crow, till thou deny me thrice. Jn. 13.

And the Lord said: Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and thou, being once converted, confirm thy brethren. Luc.22

Then Jesus said to them: All you shall be scandalized in me this night. For it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be dispersed. But after I shall be risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. And Peter answering, said to him: Although all shall be scandalized in thee, I will never be scandalized.Mt.26.

And Jesus saith to him: Amen I say to thee, today, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shall deny me thrice.But he spoke the more vehemently: Although I should die together with thee, I will not deny thee. And in like manner also said they all. Mar.14.

A FIGURE

The Patriarch Jacob being near unto death, and having all his children gathered together round about him, appointed Ephraim the younger brother over Manasses which was the elder: and afterward having told them many things to come, he gave them all his blessing.

CONSIDERATIONS

1. See the small consideration of the Disciples: for that in time, so inconvenient, when as the Death and Passion of their master as at hand, whilst that he stood treating with them of the treason which one of them was to commit against him, wherefore they had greater occasion to be sad and to desire all to suffer and die with Christ: they considering no more thing of this matter, and much less the example which a little before had given them so profound humility: with ambitious minds are disputing and contending amongst themselves which of them should be the greater. O how vain is man,and how great is our frailty and inconstancy, if we be not holpen and confirmed with the divine grace.

2. Consider on the other side,the benignity and meekness of our Saviour because he is not incensed against his Disciples, neither reprehendeth them sharply,or confoundeth them for the small love which they showed towards him: but familiarly correcteth them. and in most friendly manner instructeth them first by declaring unto them how that ambition was a vice of worldings and gentiles: Secondly be setting before them the example of himself, who being such as he was, performed notwithstanding amongest them the office of a servant. Thirdly by promising them other kind of honors, & a kingdom in Heaven of greater importance. Whereby we may understand of how great importance and how necessary humility is, seeing that Christ in the end of his life both with words and with example doth so often inculcate and recommend it.

3. Consider how tenderly our Lord loved his Disciples, which although they were imperfect in his love, yet nevertheless because, they had followed him faithfully, & persevered with him in his temptations, he promiseth them in reward and recompense,not greatness and earthly goods,as he did unto the ancient Fathers,but a Heavenly Kingdom, & the self same kingdom and reward, which his eternal Father had disposed to give unto him. What

4. All you said our Lord shall be scandalized in me. See how still the displeasure and travails of our Savior increase: a little before he was troubled for that one of his Disciples was to betray him: now he is grieved because all of them are to be scandalized in him, and that which troubleth him most, is, that he, whom he had exalted above all the rest, within a while after should so shamefully deny him, and swear that he never knew him. See how on every side Blessed Jesus findeth new occasion of sorrow and sadness, for if he turn himself unto his Father, he seeth him stand with the sword of his justice in his hand, prepared to strike him for our iniquities: If he turn him to his mother, he seeth her so much afflicted for his love, that she hath more need to be comforted herself, then to give comfort to her son: If he turn towards his friends and Disciples, he seeth that within short space they all being scandalized in him shall abandon and forsake him. If finally he turn towards the fruit of his Passion, to comfort himself at least in those which were to be redeemed by his death: Alas my Lord how small in number did you perceive them to be, which were to take profit by your Blood: yea rather how many to your infinite grief did you see which would despise it & tread it under their feet?

5. If all the others be scandalized said Peter unto Christ, yet will not I, and if need be I will go with thee to prison and unto death. In like manner said all the rest. O Redeemer of the world, how great courage do your Disciples show, but they will quickly loose it. O what difference is betwixt saying and doing? for their words go very strait, but their doings will go quite a wry, seeing that they say they will die for you, and not run away, but within a while after they will fly, and you shall die for them. But content yourself most benign Lord, that this promise which now they make you, remain as reserved for the time to come, when as after your Ascension they dispersing themselves over the whole world shall die all Martyrs for you. Then shall be fulfilled that which now they say, then shall they go to prison and to death for your love: so that at this present you call them not to account for that which they promise, seeing that they will do quite contrary. O poor Disciples now cometh the hour, that obscure & darkened in you the light of faith, and so shall be discovered in fire and imperfect you are: seeing that now you go all in one way united together,and shortly after you shall fly away dispersed into many ways: now you go like faithful Disciples together with your master, and presently after you shall return without a master and without true fidelity.

THE PRAYER

Thou shalt pray to CHRIST our Lord by that benignity & fatherly piety, wherewith he took compassion over the frailty of his Disciples, and healed their spiritual infirmities, that he permit thee not vainly to be carried away with any blast of Pride, neither to be removed by any temptation, from the way which thou hast begun of his holy service, but that knowing thine own weakness and inconstancy thou maiest trust only in him, & unite thyself unto him only: that aided and confirmed with his grace thou maiest overcome all the deceits of the Devil, and securely arrive to that happy kingdom,which he hath prepared for those which are humble of hart,which preserver for his love constant in the temptations and travails of this life.

DOCUMENTS

1. Seeing that Christ was not ashamed to serve his Disciples. If we think much to imitate the example of other men, at least let us not be ashamed to imitate the humility of God.

2. Christ promised his Apostles a kingdom, not for that they had followed him, but because they had persevered with him in his temptations: if afterwards we preserver not: and he is not rewarded which only followeth Christ, but he which sufferth and travailed with Christ.

3. The Devil desireth with temptation to sift all men, but much more the servants of God, whom he hath elected for the aid and help of others, let us therefore endeavor to be always vigilant, because our enemy sleepeth not.

4. Christ prayed for Peter that he being converted might help others: Even so, the graces which our Lord hath granted us, must not we keep idle, but use them to the help and salvation of others.

5. Let us not account ourselves secure, although we seem to have gotten never so much virtue and perfection for often times it happeneth, that they which seem far better then others, fall most miserably.

6. Our Lord permitted Peter that great pillar to fall, for our instruction. First that we should learn, not to trust in ourselves,neither to attribute much to our own strength, seeing how frail and weak we are: Secondly that we should give more credit unto Christ and unto those which in his steed do govern us, then unto our own judgment.Thirdly to reprove the foolish boldness of those, which persuade themselves that they know and are able to do great matters and much better then others. Fourthly to the extent that those which have the charge of and government of others,might learn by their own experience how to have compassion of their subjects when as they also happen to fall.


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