22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Fr. Simham)

I HAVE A DREAM: 22ND SUNDAY A

Last Friday, (28th August, 2020) was the 57th anniversary of the famous speech delivered by Martin Luther King Jr. The title of the speech was “I have a dream”. In that he said:

 “I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. …………..

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood…………

I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today……….

Incidentally his dream was realized when Barack Obama was elected the president of a major political party. All of us have dreams. Dreams of a bright and better future. Peter whom we encounter in today’s gospel had a dream. His dream was based on the dream of every Israelite of his time. They dreamt of a messiah who will come and deliver them from the bondage of Roman Empire and will establish a kingdom of their own. As a true Israelite he too dreamt of the Messiah. When Jesus came to his boat and preached about the kingdom of God, after he had the miraculous catch of fish, and when Jesus asked him to follow him (Ref. Lk.5/1-9), Peter thought that he struck Gold. He thought that it was a privilege to follow the messiah and be part of his inner circle of friends. He left everything and followed him. So did all the other disciples. When Jesus said “The kingdom of God is close at hand……”, he was excited to follow him. When he heard all the parables about the kingdom of God: how it is going to come, how it is going to be, and who are eligible for it etc.; Peter was really excited and dreamt of his own role in this kingdom. And finally when Jesus said, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church……….Whatever you bind on earth will be considered bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be considered loosed in heaven”; Peter thought that his dream was fulfilled. His hard work to please the Lord by being first in everything paid of. He is the leader and successor of the kingdom now.

But suddenly Jesus comes out with a strange statement which does not fit in with his agenda of the kingdom. Jesus talks of suffering and death of the messiah. This is not the messiah the Israelites expected. This is not the hero he dreamt of. This is not the messiah for whom he left everything. This is not the messiah for whom he walked and slept in the cold and wilderness, leaving the comforts of his family and home. No. So he takes Jesus aside and says “No this should not happen to you! We want a hero not a Zero”. After all Jesus gave him the power to bind and to loose. So he is binding Jesus.

But Jesus rebukes him and says “Get behind me, Satan!.” What a shock for Peter. Leader, rock and foundation of the church is publicly ridiculed as Satan and stumbling block. All his dreams were shattered. All the good name he built up means  nothing.

Friends, Is it not true to our life too. We too have dreams for our life. By saying dreams I do not mean mere fantasies but well calculated plans for our life. But often these dreams are shattered. For, example, in our work place we dream of a wonderful future with your job, but for no fault of our own, we are removed from our job. We end up being jobless in spite your qualification. Or, You find a wonderful partner and dream of a happy life together, but something happens and you end up being separated. Your dreams of wonderful family life are shattered. Or, You spend lot of time and energy and money looking after your children and educating them and dream of your son and daughter being in good jobs and professions, but they end up some where else. Your dreams are shattered. You feel, as if the whole world come to an end. Now, what to do in this situation? How to react? It is here St. Peter stands as an example. When his dreams were shattered, he gathered the pieces together and dreamt a new dream. One of my spiritual directors told me. “When you dream, dream high. When your dreams are shattered, gather the pieces and dream a new dream.” This is what Peter did. When he was told that being a disciple means to suffer not to boss over. He dreamt of a suffering disciple and he gave his life for his belief.

This is what St. Peter is teaching us today. Have dreams. Have plans for your life. When your dreams are shattered, don’t worry. Gather the pieces and dream a new dream. Great achievers are those who dreamt great dreams. Jesus himself dreamt of the Kingdom of God. His dreams were great. You can see this in his parables. So have great dreams about your life. More importantly when your dreams are shattered, gather the pieces together and dream a new dream. Amen.

Fr. Showreelu Simham