God extends his grace way beyond any law

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

A reflection on the daily readings, for Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

+ Let’s begin with Peter himself. What happened to him? He often blustered in his speech, giving this answer or that one, and they were often wrong. Not saying he had a big trap, but he kinda did.

And yet Jesus let him be who he was. And after he proclaimed with such bravado that he would lay down his life for Jesus, he denied him three times — exactly as Jesus said he would.

He felt remorse, sure. But he also apparently ran away from the cross, leaving Jesus to die alone with an angry mob! Jesus also, at least in one of the Gospels, gave Peter the opportunity to turn his three denials into three proclamations of love for Jesus.

So, to see what occurs in today’s Gospel should be no surprise. Peter began to see, apparently, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was meant for all.

He began to eat and drink with Gentiles and share this message of salvation. Peter was changed. He had visions. God, apparently, even in his sleep or trance-like sleep, kept giving him more.

Peter took an enormous leap of faith, and something he had practiced all of his life became OK. God was giving him a sign that there was something more than a law — the law.

Not saying the law was bad. Just sayin’ that there was something more and much more important. And this happened not once, not twice, but thrice. OMG! Another thrice in the life of Peter.

Then Peter had a visitation and was led to this particular house, for he was to lead this entire household to Christ and belief in the Gospel, and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

And it happened.

The same gift given to the Jews was given to Gentiles. Oh, the works of the Lord! Who would have thought or could have imagined? Clearly, this God was working in wonderful ways and extending his grace way beyond any limitations that the law and man could even put on God.

God rules!

And through Peter, the apostles and brothers also came to see that God was going beyond the limits they imagined must be so! God rules!

And so, in the Gospel, the very thing that would happen later to Peter in the Acts of the Apostles (because chronologically, Acts followed the events of the Gospel) was proclaimed by the Lord as available to any and to all who would listen to his word and follow.

That is, the sheep who heard his voice and began to see are those who would find life and eternal life. There were thieves and robbers and imposters; but really, the Gospel of Jesus is so clear.

We know what God wants and what God calls us to. And that is life — and life to the full.

And Jesus states it unequivocally —

“I have come so that they may have life and have it more abundantly!”