Meditation & Mental Prayer: Catholics Talking To God.
Meditation & Mental Prayer: Catholics Talking To God.
Take up your cross and follow Me.
Deliberately this episode is only a few minutes long as you listen you will understand why as you witness the profound vulnerability of an aging Peter when he recalls one of the most painful moments of his walk with Jesus—when he rebuked his Master for predicting His death, only to be sharply corrected in return. This deeply moving narrative brings us behind the scenes of Gospel writing, as Matthew captures Peter's tearful recollections of his well-intentioned but misguided attempt to protect Jesus from suffering.
The poignancy of this moment lies in Peter's hard-earned wisdom. Now an old man, he understands what he couldn't grasp in his younger years: that his resistance to Jesus' crucifixion journey wasn't faithfulness but failure. "If only he had listened that day," we read as Peter weeps, recognizing that his denial of Christ began long before the courtyard and rooster's crow—it started with his unwillingness to accept the necessity of the cross.
What makes this account particularly moving is Peter's determination to share his failure despite how poorly it reflects on him. His tearstained realization becomes our instruction: following Christ means embracing self-denial and taking up our own crosses. The words of Jesus that once seemed harsh—"Go behind me, Satan"—now read as a profound invitation to align ourselves with divine purposes rather than human comfort. Through Peter's hindsight, we gain foresight for our own discipleship journey, learning that sometimes the most loving thing we can do is accept the necessary suffering that comes with following God's path.
Matthew sits writing, fine brush in his hand. He finishes writing and he sits back and surveys the words on the page. How well he remembers the incident that he's writing about. Oh, if he had only known then what he knew now he began to re-read the words he had just penned. From that time, jesus began to show to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the ancients and the scribes and the chief priests and be put to death and the third day to rise again.
Speaker 1:He winced now at the memory of what happened next. He, peter, had been alarmed at the master's words Was Jesus overcome with doom? Yes, the scribes and Pharisees were plotting the Lord's death, but this would never happen. God would not allow it. Peter, with heavy heart, leans over and writes and Peter, taking him, began to rebuke him, saying Lord, be it far from thee. This shall not be done unto thee.
Speaker 1:Peter reads these words aloud to himself. He was about to write again. He hesitates, puts down the brush. Should he even write? What happened next?
Speaker 1:He feels his chest contract at the memory that sears across his mind so often he failed to master. Contract at the memory that sears across his mind so often he failed the Master. His heart aches. If only he had listened that day he failed. Jesus missed his chance to join him on Calvary. But the Master's words had stung him. Should he write the words? Should he let the word know how the Master had rebuked him, how he had treated him? The master had said Go behind me, satan. Thou art a scandal unto me because thou savourest not the things that are of God, but the things that are of men.
Speaker 1:Peter sat still, eyes looking into the distance. He remembered the awful day, the day he denied. He knew the Master. Now, tears ran freely down his wrinkled cheeks, his breath caught in a sob. If only he had listened, he could have been on Calvary. But he must write the words, no matter how bad it made him look. He must write so the world will not make the same mistake he made. He wrote quickly. Then Jesus said to his disciples If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.