Lent 2 March 12, 2006
“Get behind me, Satan”
What have you done in your life to get ahead? Did you invest in a solid education? Did you marry someone with a better pedigree or financial security? Did you invest in the stock market or buy real estate? Did you work hard, really hard, extra hard—to get ahead? Did you get the feeling at a young age, as I did, that the deal in life was to lead, follow, or get out of the way? And that the followers didn’t amount to much. Leadership, being on top, excelling, succeeding, striving for greatness. That is what it is all about. And it is possible in America, yes? Some lower middle class schmuck makes a smart choice and the next thing you know he owns a fortune 500 company. Some computer geek strikes it rich with a search tool called GOOGLE. Anyone can play this game, right? Anyone can be the next American Idol, the next big thing. Just keep your eye on the prize. Get ahead of the next guy; no step on him. Put her in her place. That’ll get you ahead. “Everybody just get out of my way!!” Ever thought that?
“Get behind me, Satan.” You see, Peter had other plans for Jesus and himself. He thought that with Jesus, unlike John the Baptist, they had a guy who could rule the nation. A common man with mass appeal. JBAP was way too fringe to make it all the way. Peter had his man and was willing to sacrifice his own stuff to get him there. Like the campaign chief, Peter knew what it would take to get Jesus to the top—to Jerusalem, the temple, maybe even Rome itself! And any defeatist talk would not suffice. Suffering and death? At the hands of chief priests and scribes? No way. That’s not a get ahead attitude. That’s giving up. That’s giving in. That’s not fighting the good fight. Jesus was not the guy to take one for the team. Peter thought he would be that guy. No, Jesus was the leader of the team. Jesus was the one worth suffering for, so long as it gets him ahead where he belongs.
In how many ways, do we operate from a human motivation to get ahead or to succeed in our own terms? How do we encounter this Jesus, who is willing to surrender without a fight? Suffering is unacceptable. Self-sacrifice without tangible gains, is futility. Jesus is absurd. Peter won’t let him give up and give in. Not without a stern talk first.
“Get behind me, Satan.” Thing is, Jesus doesn’t have to get ahead. He is the head of all things. He is the Son of God. Everyone and everything else is less and must either follow or get out of the way. Satan throws up human intentions and human misunderstanding as roadblocks to God’s mission. But Satan fails. You can’t tell God what to do, no matter who you think you are. God knows we try. As if we know best.
Are you following the way or are you just in the way?
with love, PM