Living in Three Worlds

Today's Lenten reflection from The Rev. Dr. Michael Battle of CREDO:

"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." --Matthew 16:19-23

All of us trying to follow Jesus relate to the disciple Peter. But sometimes Peter out does even himself. Can you believe it? Peter actually pulled Jesus aside and began to rebuke Jesus.

Jesus turned and said a very interesting thing to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things" (Matthew 16:19-23). Jesus is literally saying to Peter that he is going beyond himself into the choppy waters of evil.

What I learn about Peter I also learn about myself. Within this brief narrative between Jesus and Peter we are invited into the essence of Lent--that is, overcoming suffering and evil. These turbulent waters between heaven and hell are illustrated through Jesus' simultaneous rebuke of Peter and Satan. This turbulent space is also illustrative of how Peter also contains the keys to heaven and can bind and loose the connections between heaven and earth. In other words, Peter simultaneously acts in heaven, earth and hell. These worlds seem to be contiguous based upon one's connection to the suffering Jesus.

Just as Jesus does not advocate for Peter to become Satan, so he does not advocate for any to go to hell or be separated from heaven. Those who think Jesus wants some to go to hell do not understand how Jesus teaches through parables; and such exegesis or biblical interpretation misses Jesus' point about the kingdom of heaven. Jesus' essential point is this: "Seeing they do not perceive."

Let us pray,
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.