Read Deacon Greg's Homily

He’s hit another one out of the park. His parish is much blessed to have him:

You really have to feel for St. Peter.

A couple weeks ago, we encountered him climbing out of a boat during a storm, trying to walk on water. He floundered, and Jesus had to rescue him.

Then, last week, he ended up with a job he never sought. Jesus gave him the keys to the kingdom and called him his rock. Peter has just gotten used to that idea when, those words still ringing in his ears, he hears the guy who just called him “a rock” yelling at him, and calling him Satan.

Peter just can’t catch a break.

The apostle must have wondered at this moment, his cheeks burning with embarrassment, “What in God’s name does he WANT from me?”

It’s a good question. And it’s one a lot of us ask. As we heard a few moments ago, St. Paul had some advice for the Romans: “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Which leads us to ask, with Peter: “What DOES he WANT from me?”

What IS the will of God?

When he was here in April, Pope Benedict asked a gathering of priests to pray for a special intention of the pope. One of the priests asked him what that intention was. And His Holiness replied: “Pray that I never get in the way of Jesus.”

I think that’s a very good thing to pray for a pope. And I think it’s also a good thing to pray for ourselves. Pray that others see Jesus in us, and through us, and that we never block what he is trying to do
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The best we can do, in a world as uncertain as this, is exactly what Paul told the Romans: seek to be transformed.

Pray for wisdom, to know what would please God.

Pray for courage, to do as Peter did, and get out of the boat.

Pray for trust, to let God guide us where he wants.

Pray, as Pope Benedict does, to not to get in the way of Jesus.

It gets better and better…go; read in peace. It’s a keeper.

Also, for you Fr. James Martin fans out there, a listen.