Four great images of St Peter

The El Greco is amazing; I've always loved that one alot.

http://www.logoi.com/pastimages/saint_peter.html

Repeat of lyrics of a favorite song

This is my favorite "Elton John" and "Bernie Taupin" song. I think I have blogged about this before.

"Where To Now St. Peter?"

I took myself a blue canoe
And I floated like a leaf
Dazzling, dancing
Half enchanted
In my Merlin sleep

Crazy was the feeling
Restless were my eyes
Insane they took the paddles
My arms they paralyzed

So where to now St. Peter
If it's true I'm in your hands
I may not be a Christian
But I've done all one man can
I understand I'm on the road
Where all that was is gone
So where to now St. Peter
Show me which road I'm on
Which road I'm on

It took a sweet young foreign gun
This lazy life is short
Something for nothing always ending
With a bad report

Dirty was the daybreak
Sudden was the change
In such a silent place as this
Beyond the rifle range

I took myself a blue canoe

[ www.azlyrics.com ]

Comment on the Transfiguration

Father Z has a great post on his site about today's feast of the Transfiguration. I wasn't going to make a particular comment about this great event when Jesus is transfigured into a visible form of his internal glory, while speaking in front of three Apostles with Moses and Elias, but I have to make a gentle correction. It seems so many people, including the great Augustine, misunderstand St. Peter. *sigh.* So here is what I want to correct, gently.

Even the Apostle Peter, his eyes dazzled by the Lord on Mount Tabor, failed to see what was happening. The great St. Augustine in a sermon on the Transfiguration (s. 78, 6), addresses Peter, and through Peter he really addresses us: “Descend the mount, O Peter. You wanted to rest on the mountain. Come down.” We still have work to do in this life before we can rest. Citing the same passage of Augustine the CCC 556 takes up this same theme:

Peter did not yet understand this when he wanted to remain with Christ on the mountain. It has been reserved for you, Peter, but for after death. For now, Jesus says: “Go down to toil on earth, to serve on earth, to be scorned and crucified on earth. Life goes down to be killed; Bread goes down to suffer hunger; the Way goes down to be exhausted on his journey; the Spring goes down to suffer thirst; and you refuse to suffer?”

Father Z sees this as a good analysis but it is a misinterpretation of what St. Peter intended. For those of you who don't know the scripture, it is referring to Peter's instant reaction at seeing Moses and Elias appear with the Lord Jesus, who is transfigured into glory of light. Peter immediately offered to erect tents for each of the three: Elias, Moses and Jesus. Matthew 17: 4 Then Peter addressed Jesus, saying, "Lord, it is good for us to be here, If thou wilt, let us set up three tents here, one for thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias."

My Muslim and conservative or orthodox Jewish readers will immediately be nodding their heads in understanding of the point I am about to make, even before I say it. Only Christians who are so focused on the passion of Christ and his impending death, like Augustine, would interpret so very incorrectly that Peter was trying to set up tents to "get them to stay on the mountain." To the contrary, Peter was immediately assuming that Moses, Elias and Jesus would abide on the mountain for some unknown time and it was their choice because that's where they appeared!

Muslims and Jews, especially those who understand traditional devotion and hospitality, would immediately relate to how Peter would, upon the amazing sight of Elias, Moses and glorified Jesus, immediately leap to erect tents for them on the mountain. Obviously Peter would be quick to deduce that the three holy personages would reside on the mountain for whatever time they were there. Peter as a devout, practical and hospitable Apostle, would instantly think to build worthy accommodation for them on the mountain, which is now a sacred place by their presence. Peter had a remarkably clear first reaction, not a negative or silly one.

See, I don't mind mining the Gospels for insights and multiple messages, since obviously events must be viewed with both spiritual and earthly eyes, both when they happened and how they are indicative of the future. But everyone is guilty of wringing every bit of juice out of the orange of an event, until they actually stumble into hyperbole, misunderstanding or error. Augustine is not Jesus; he does not express himself perfectly, as insightful, admirable and saintly, great in wisdom, as he was. Here he totally missed the point, and I don't mind saying that CCC misses the point here too.

Peter was far from trying to angle a way to "stay on the mountain." Gosh, I'd almost think that Augustine and CCC got carried away with a little "new age symbolism," ha.

Peter would have assumed that he built the tents for the holy personages on the mountain, for as long as they wished to stay, and he and the other two would serve them (and I would expect that Peter would have assumed that he and the others would have retreated quickly down the mountain out of the "holy space" of Elias, Moses and Jesus). So this was totally an appropriate snap assumption on Peter's part, based on hospitality, honor the sacred personages, assumption that they appeared on the mountain because that is where they choose to stay, and assumption that the mountain top is now holy ground and needs accommodations accordingly. Peter would have instantly thought of how God appeared to Moses in a tent that was erected and reserved specifically for God. And remember, no one came near the tent but Moses.

So Peter was far from weaseling trying to stay on the mountain to avoid the earthly reality and woes. Like I said, everyone is guilty of milking all sorts of foreboding and multiple messages when they sermonize, especially Christians through the ages! This is a classic example where Augustine really went too far. He could have made the parallel without ascribing the erroneous motive to Peter. Gosh, I spend so much of my time explaining to many people (including a holy television personage I could mention) that Peter at his weakest is hundreds of times more appropriate in his actions than the average person, and criticism of Peter should be a very sparely used seasoning, if you get my point. Any hint that Peter was hanging around looking for his ease and glory is outrageously unjust and not very scholarly. There really is not even room for poetic license on this point.

Already by Augustine's time people started to forget the Middle Eastern hospitality customs, yes, even as applied to angelic or saintly visitors, as documented in the Old Testament and the Qur'an. And with each century Christian scholars have become even more detached from the cultural and religious mores of the time that would have been the first impulse of a pious Jew such as Peter. But Peter would have immediately, especially at seeing Moses, assumed that the mountain was going to be a temporary holy and sacred place of repose for the three personages, and was going to hustle to make honorable provision for them. Remember too that erecting tents would have served to reinforce the now sacred space on the mountain, and Peter would have been mindful of his responsibility to do that, so that others do not mindlessly trespass.

Read Exodus 19:16-25 for background, as Peter would have been extremely intimate with the great Theophany when God appeared on the mountain to speak to Moses, and how upon God's "arrival" on Mount Sinai no people but Moses and Aaron could come up the mountain. So this would have occurred to Peter in a flash upon his first sight and recognition of Moses himself now being on Mount Tabor with Elias and Jesus.

Then read Exodus 25-26 where God gives in great detail instructions for the tent where God will "indwell" in the form of the Ark and the sanctuary. Again, Peter would have instantly thought of how Moses was instructed by God to create a tent in the wilderness in the days before there was a stone built Temple. So Peter would have immediately realized that God requires a tent in the wilderness for himself and obviously for the holy ones he has sent to meet with Jesus, Elias and Moses.

Then read Exodus 40:34-38 where the cloud that was the glory of the Lord would descend on the tent which is "the Dwelling" and where Moses entered to meet with God "the Meeting Tent." You will read how if the Lord was indwelling, the Israelites knew to stay put and not continue their journey to the promised land. When the Lord God's cloud rose, then the people knew they could pack the Dwelling and set out on their journey. Again, Peter would have instantly thought of this when he saw Moses in his glorified form, with Elias and Jesus. Peter would have immediately recognized that God and those he sends will dwell in a tent and they will indicate when they come and go, whether to be on the mountain or elsewhere.

So here is an example where you can authentically look inside how Peter's mind would have worked, after you read those parts of Exodus and realized he was gazing on Moses with Elias and Jesus revealing part of his God given inner glory!

Pope Benedict XVI speaks for the rock of the Church

Consolation for families of those who died in Peru:

Matthew 16:18-19
And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Pope Benedict XVI, the heir of Peter I:
"For the numerous dead, I invoke the peace of the Lord; for the injured, a speedy recovery; and I assure those living in extreme conditions that the church is with you with all its spiritual and material solidarity," the pope said on August 19.

By invoking the peace of the Lord for the numerous dead, the families of the dead can rest assured that whatever sins they may have carried as they died, they have been absolved and they achieved heaven.

Bible Reading: Milk, literally and figuratively

First mention of milk is as part of highly valuable gifts that Jacob prepared to give to his estranged brother Esau, in order to reconcile and head off conflict between them.

Genesis 32:14, 16

After passing the night there, Jacob selected from what he had with him the following presents for his brother Esau… Thirty milch camels and their young….

Camel milk is extremely nutritious and important for the people who depend on it. For one example, it is high in vitamin C, an essential vitamin for human health and survival, in a land where foods rich in vitamin C are extremely scarce. So it is not surprising that in the very first book of the Bible, the value of milch camels is emphasized. As they are gifts from Jacob to Esau as part of reconciliation, there is also the obvious symbolism of milk as symbol of family and community peace and prosperity.

Genesis 49:12

His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth are whiter than milk.

This is part of Jacob’s prophecy regarding Judah and his, and subsequently his descendent tribe’s, beauty, respect and prosperity. Again the essentials of milk and wine are used as symbols of beauty (notice Jacob is not saying Judah’s teeth will be whiter than the moon!) The early patriarchs, prophets and poets of the time were intensely devoted to the beauty of the land and flock’s yield as being the sustenance of their people.

Exodus 3:8

Therefore I [the Lord] have come down to rescue them from the hands of the Egyptians and lead them out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey…

This is the place in the Bible where the words and promise of God became a frequently used expression to denote prosperity “flowing with milk and honey.” Notice the two foods mention represent basic sustenance (milk) and sweetness (honey.)

Deuteronomy 32:14

Butter from its cows and milk from its sheep, with the fat of its lambs and rams…

This is from the song of Moses, telling the entire assembly of Israel of what God provided for them, and how they responded in sin. Here Moses mentions that the milk is from sheep, providing us with that dietary information about the Israelis dependence on both camel and sheep milk.

Judges 4:19

He [Sisera] said to her [Jael], “Please give me a little water to drink. I am thirsty.” But she opened a jug of milk for him to drink, and then covered him over.

Sisera of the Canaanite kingdom was an enemy of Barak of the kingdom of Israel, and they had battled on Mount Tabor. Sisera escaped but ended up demanding protection in the tent of Jael, wife of the Kenite Heber, of a people who were at peace with Israel. After Sisera falls asleep Jael slays him with a tent peg. Notice how Jael had given him milk instead of water… this is a very early reference to the lore that milk promotes sleep.

Proverbs 27:23, 27

Take good care of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds;
And there will be ample goat’s milk to supply you, to supply your household, and maintenance for your maidens.

Notice that here it is goat’s milk that is mentioned. Milk was clearly such a nutritious and vital source of protein, fluids, sugars, vitamins and minerals for the people of Israel and a large reason why they prospered in health and fertility.

Proverbs 30:33

For the stirring of milk brings forth curds, and the stirring of anger brings forth blood.
Here the author contrasts the good and healthy results of the agitation of milk (for curds and butter) with the destructive agitation of people in their anger.

Isaiah 7: 14, 21-22

Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall be living on curds and honey by the time he learns to reject the bad and choose the good.

On that day a man shall keep a heifer or a couple of sheep, and from their abundant yield of milk her shall live on curds; curds and honey shall be the food of all who remain in the land.

Here is mention of milk from cows, added now to the references we have found of milk from camels, sheep and goats. On a prophetic level, this is a reference to Isaiah’s vision of the coming of Christ, although at the time this prophecy was made the focus was on the future birth of the nearer term king of Israel. Here curds and honey is less representative of prosperity as it is of basic survival foods during a time of conflict and devastated lands (honey being a found food, and curds being a preserved food.)

Isaiah 28:9

To whom would he impart knowledge? To whom would he convey the message? To those just weaned from milk, those taken from the breast?

Here God is paraphrasing how people had mocked the prophecies of Isaiah, how they had made Isaiah sound like he could only be believed by a babbling baby. However, in the next few verses God takes these words and turns them in turn on the enemies of Israel. So here mother’s milk is used as an analogy for someone who is not an adult to speak and prophesy, as some had accused Isaiah. God assures that the mockers will be the ones who were not the wise adults who could see their own disaster coming.

1 Corinthians 3:1-2

Brothers, I could not talk to you as spiritual people, but as fleshly people, as infants in Christ. I fed you milk, not solid food, because you were unable to take it. Indeed, you are still not able to, even now…

Here St. Paul is responding to the Corinthians who had hoped for a more high minded and sophisticated wisdom dialogue or colloquy with him. Paul is saying that he is sustaining them, but with a level of conversation like milk for infants, which is beneficial but easy to understand. He goes on to comment in subsequent verses that if they persist in acting like immature children, and that until they stop fighting amongst themselves, he will not give them the “solid food.”

1 Peter 2:1-3

Rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, insincerity, envy, and all slander, like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk so that through it you may grown into salvation, for you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Isn’t it interesting to contrast the styles (perhaps reflective of the different audiences) between St. Peter here in this writing, and that of St. Paul discussed prior? St. Paul had a rebellious and aggressive situation to deal with, where he was trying to get them to “grow up” before delivering the message of the Gospel in its fullest impact and maturity. St. Peter is writing as a general presbyter, acknowledging these failings of humans, but not having to deal with a raucous congregation, as St. Paul had to. St. Peter was painting for the Gentile converts of Asia Minor, to who he was writing, a goal of being like infants who only focus on pure spiritual milk and not adult “one-upmanship” of the intellect, pride and coveting. He later compares this process to the people growing into living stones built into priestly spiritual houses. So Peter uses the analogy of milk to show that how this simple food given to infants results in the growth of great things, of salvation, all on its own, without being spurred by the ambitions of the mind and heart. Remember that St. Peter was the first Pope of the Catholic Church, and these words of his remain as beautiful guidance by the man who allowed the Church to be built “upon” him. It is an interesting coincidence that Pope Benedict XVI’s first encyclical is “Deus Caritas,” God is Love, and here in what one could view as the first Pope’s “first encyclical” Peter is urging the flock to “long for spiritual milk so that through it you may grown into salvation, for you have tasted that the Lord is good.”