The Woman At The Well

Having Faith, Peter’s Struggle to Follow

When one says “I believe,” one is saying “I trust you; I accept your will.” What follows one’s declaration of faith is the big unknown. The Canaanite woman accepts whatever Christ will do for her daughter; anything would be welcome. She has no preconception s, no false assumptions.

Following Peter’s profession of faith much is unknown. Peter assumes a leadership role, speaking for the disciples, thinking he will share in Christ’s power, a human idea. Learning about faith and trust as to what the Messiah means is a difficult journey for Peter and us. Peter is us. He sees the death of Jesus as unacceptable- what will we do without the Master? As spokesman for our group of disciples, we should be the ones to die in a glorious, heroic manner. This is the challenge in believing in Christ- to see things from His perspective, not our human perspective.

Man’s ideas of our own self-importance, our human quest to do something heroic for Christ, our notion of thinking, we know what is best for us, is all too familiar. Peter’s journey of faith is a discovery of truth-a discovery of who Peter is and who Jesus is. Jesus has to forgive Peter many times on his journey to Jerusalem, and Peter has to have his beliefs turned upside down, to conform to Christ, so Peter can witness and lead Christ’s followers. Only during the Paschal mystery will Peters eyes be opened; he will not distant himself from Christ; he will let himself be completely loved by Jesus; his anxiety will abate, and his faith will be pure.