"...once you have recovered..."

I am still reading my way through the twenty-second chapter of Saint Luke's Gospel using The Jerusalem Bible. It's interesting to read a short section and then just reflect on it. Today's section was one that comes after Jesus tells the Twelve that one of them will betray Him (Luke 22:31-34). The Lord does not designate which one it might be. This causes these men to wonder amongst themselves, "Who is it?"

Between the short section about His betrayal and the one I read and reflected on today is the section where Jesus settles the dispute about which of them is the greatest. This section contains Jesus' words "I am among you as the one who serves" (Luke 22:27). Stated a bit more literally, the Lord tells them, "I am among you as a deacon."

After this, turning to Peter, Jesus tells him that Satan desires to "sift all of them like wheat"- to crush them into powder and scatter them. The Lord then reassures Peter by telling him that He has prayed for him, assuring him that his faith would not fail. Then Jesus makes an elliptical statement telling Peter than once he has turned back, he needs to strengthen his brethren.

As readers, we know to what Jesus is referring: Peter's denial (something He makes explicit in this passage after Peter pledges loyalty come what may). The Jersualem Bible uses the word "recovered" as in" "...I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail, and once you have recovered, you must strengthen your brethren."

Among the insights to be gleaned from these inspired words is that faith is a gift from God, a grace, a supernatural virtue. In other words, it isn't merely a choice made by someone, anyone, to believe. Faith comes from God and is fortified and nourished by God. Christ nurtures and nourishes your faith through the sacraments, which are privileged and sure means of God's grace. As the Concluding Prayer for Friday in the Fifth Week of Lent has it:

O God,
who have prepared fitting helps for us in our weakness,
grant, we pray,
that we may receive their healing effects with joy
and reflect them in a holy way of life

This, too, anticipates not only Peter's betrayal but the Lord's forgiveness of his betrayal. The tenth verse of Psalm 51, the Miserere, the penitential psalm prayed on Fridays throughout the year as the first psalm of Morning Prayer, sets this in relief beautifully:

You will let me hear gladness and joy;
the bones you have crushed will rejoice

Crushed, but not ground into powder and scattered- restored and recovered, not disintegrated.

When I survey the wonderous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride