Poor Peter. He was one of the people most intimate with Jesus. He was present for all the major miracles, the transfiguration, and the agony in the garden. The Spirit inspired him to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah, and Jesus declared that he would be the rock of the church. He was privileged to walk closely with the Lord, hearing his teachings, having parables explained, and touching divinity itself. If anyone could be expected to comprehend and live the gospel, it would be Peter.

Yet over and over again Peter failed. He just didn’t get it. He wanted to build tents to remain on the mountain, missing the point of what was happening. He was adamantly opposed to Jesus’ suffering, ignorant of the path Jesus was taking even as he walked it with him. Most grievous of all, he denied any knowledge of Jesus when that relationship could have meant discomfort, pain, or possibly following him to the cross. Any decent teacher would have thrown in the towel and declared him a lost cause. In spite of his stubbornness and problems, though, the Spirit never stopped working in Peter. God used circumstances, people, and inspiration to mold him into what Jesus predicted he would be – the rock of the church. "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church…" [Matthew 16:18]

Peter gives me patience with the young people I teach. Some of them are so intelligent and have endless promise. Yet their hard-headedness, their misbehavior, and their recalcitrance sometimes convince me they are lost causes, that they will never accept the gift of faith and there is nothing I can do.

Last month I encountered one such former student in the shopping mall. This problem child who never listened, never behaved, and rarely seemed to care came right up to me and gave me a hug. He told me that he was in college now. The extra-curricular activity that most excited him at school was volunteering as a catechist for 5th graders. He said my example of patience and care for each person in the class had meant a great deal to him, and he was trying to model his teaching on mine. He thanked me, promised to e-mail to get some ideas for the class, and then bounded off. I stood for a moment in stunned silence. The only thing that could come out of my mouth was "Thank you, Jesus."

Who are the Peters in your group? Who are you tempted to write off as a lost cause? Remember Peter. You may be teaching a future rock of the church.

Amy Florian