One of the things that kept going through my mind this past weekend was how the Church which has changed the world for 2,000 years must be divinely inspired – mostly because the people initially in charge were a shambles.
Come Good Friday. Jesus was crucified on the cross. Peter, the Rock(?), had already denied Jesus three times. Judas, one of the twelve, had betrayed Jesus and was on his way to committing suicide. Thomas was doing his doubting thing.
The night before, Jesus in what must have been obvious distress, had asked Peter, James, and John, to pray with him and they promptly fell asleep.
After the crucifixion, followers of Jesus scattered in despair. We have recounted for us the two dispirited followers walking to Emmaus in doubt about everything.
Now, take a snapshot right then and if you’re putting money down on whether this group of people who worshipped Jesus was going to change the world, I’m thinking you wouldn’t put much on it.
It sounds like they’d rather feel sorry for themselves and take a nap. Worst apostles ever.
But that’s the thing. Something happened. A miracle. Something transformed these dispirited sleepyheads into saints and heroes who would travel the Earth to preach about the Risen Lord. And they would change the world.
So this weekend I couldn’t stop thinking about these men. It gives me hope that they were in shambles. Kind of like me.
April 13, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Excellent reflection! I love the Gospel reading on Easter morning in which Peter and John run to the tomb. Every time I hear it proclaimed I wonder what the Apostles were thinking as they ran. I am so thankful He chose shambles of men!
April 13, 2009 at 4:24 pm
What a wonderful reflection, thanks.
April 13, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Okay, yeah, sure, dude, but can the Apostles put together a good MySpace, huh, huh, huh? Yeah, tell me somethin’, that’s what I’m sayin’.
April 13, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Yeah, I had similar thoughts about Peter here. If Peter was such a hothead/screwup, maybe there’s hope for us too.
April 13, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Thanks Matt, that’s encouraging. And I see it happening. A blogger’s profile read, “It’s not about me, it’s about Jesus.” And even non-believers know how powerful that transformation is. Lenin said on his deathbed: “I committed a great error. … To save our country, Russia, we would have needed men like Francis of Assisi.
April 13, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Mother Angelica once described the Apostles during her live show…It wasn’t very flattering!
April 14, 2009 at 12:39 am
Exactly.
Well put!
April 14, 2009 at 2:24 am
I’ve been having some doubts about faith lately- in RCIA inquiry now, aiming to come into the Church next Easter. This is the sort of thing that inspires me to continue even when I’m not sure of the path- neither were they, and look how well it turned out for them.
April 14, 2009 at 3:49 am
I always think if there’s hope for the apostles, then there’s hope for this poor sinner.