Who Knows??
As we have said many times, it is humbling and consoling to remember that human language about God and about our relationship with God is ultimately inadequate. Even biblical language which is divinely inspired is human language and is only a (God-given)road marker in God’s direction.
St Paul reminds us several times that God’s faithfulness can always be counted on, even when we are unfaithful. He expresses his wish to the Gentile part of the Roman audience that he is addressing in this letter that God will never rescind the covenant with
It is important for us in the pitfalls of our own lives to remember that none of us knows the mind of God, still we can rely on God’s Presence in our lives. Garry Wills in Why I Am a Catholic reminds the reader that the Catholic vision of faith in Jesus focuses on the future, even now. In a carefully and thoughtfully written chapter on God’s Ultimate Victory in creation, he writes of Jesus’ signature prayer, the Lord’s Prayer.
Throughout the chapter, Wills speaks of his belief that the prayer is aimed at God’s fulfillment of the Divine Plan, viz., Hallowed Be Thy Name; Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done. Only God can effect these things in creation ultimately. The second part of the prayer expresses our hope for a share (even now, but not yet) in God’s fulfillment of creation. We want to share in the Messiah’s Banquet (an image of God’s ultimate victory) (even now at the Sacramental Table). We want God to forgive our sins as we forgive others (even now). We want to be protected from the Breaking Point of surrendering in despair (even now). We want to be protected from the Evil (One?) (even now).
In his own way, Peter in the Gospel fulfills the role of Everyone in the Church. He is the know it all big talker that we all are at one time or another. Yet, he caves in at times and denies that he even knows the Lord. Still. “Rocky” was the very human person through whom God works. (Was Jesus making a pun on Peter’s character with this name?)
