When we entered the religious life, one of the first lessons we learn as a postulant is that while we are all basically the same in wanting to live our lives in a particular way, no matter how long we persevere as religious, as individuals we remain unique. And this uniqueness can be a cause of tension among the people with whom we share our lives. Each and every one of us has a specific temperament which we tend to carry throughout life. For example, some people rarely speak, while others think carefully before they open their mouths. And then there are those people who talk a lot, and who don’t always think before they speak. Saint Peter was in this category. Having a powerful vision of Jesus at the Transfiguration, Peter was awestruck; he didn’t know what to say. So, of course, he was the first one to speak up.
If you follow Peter’s life in the gospels, you’ll find that his tendency to speak and act impulsively is pretty consistent, and in a way, its rather endearing. When he throws down his nets and leaves the catch of a lifetime just to follow Jesus, we are moved by his humility and his devotion. When he is the first disciple to identify Jesus as the Christ, we are impressed; and then we are sympathetic when Our Lord rebukes him for misunderstanding the sacrificial nature of his mission. And here on the mountain as Jesus is being transfigured, Peter is at it again, he wrongly assumes once more that he knows what’s going on. He believes that Our Lord’s mission is about to come to its fulfilment, and so he proposes erecting a monument to mark so auspicious an occasion.
Like Peter, we all want to try our best to figure out God’s plan, and that’s a good thing. But sometimes, the secret to a deeper spiritual life means listening and reflecting and not rushing into action. So often, the world tells us that we should move quickly in order to fix or advance every situation that seems out of kilter in our lives. But if we do this, we risk taking action before listening for the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit.
Over time, Peter developed an attitude of waiting, listening, and asking. Through trial and error, he learned how to discern the promptings of the Holy Spirit. And that’s great news for us; because like Saint Peter, we too can become better listeners, both to God and to other people. All it takes is practice.
Dum Tacet Clamat 