Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/687

This page needs to be proofread.

Application. You can see by the case of Judas how low a man can fall who despises warnings and resists the inspirations of grace. By degrees he becomes so hardened and indifferent, that he is capable of any sin. Examine yourself! Do you take good advice to heart, and act on it? or do you prefer listening to the suggestions of bad companions rather than to the inspirations of the Holy Ghost, and the advice of those set over you? Do not harden your heart and follow the example of Judas!

Chapter LXVII.

JESUS FORETELLS THE DENIAL OF PETER AND THE
FLIGHT OF THE APOSTLES.

[John 13, 33-38 Luke 22, 31 — 34. Mat. 26, 31— 35 ]

HAVING given His apostles this great proof of His love — His own Body and Blood, Jesus vouchsafed to give them also a new commandment of love. “Little children”^[1], said He, “yet a little while I am with you. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another.”

Simon Peter said to Him: “Lord, whither goest Thou?” Jesus answered: “Whither I go, thou canst not follow Me now, but thou shalt follow Me afterwards.” Peter said to Him: “Why cannot I follow Thee now? I will lay down my life^[2] for Thee.” Jesus answered Him: “Wilt thou lay down thy life for Me? Amen, amen, I say unto thee, the cock shall not crow twice before thou deny Me thrice!”

Then the Lord addressed Peter: “Simon, Simon^[3], behold, Satan hath desired to sift you as wheat^[4]. But I have prayed for

↑ “ Little children ". As soon as our Lord was relieved of the presence of the traitor who had given himself over to Satan, He poured forth His loving and fatherly heart to His other apostles, whom He called His “little children”, and spoke to them the striking farewell words which are contained in the chapters of St. John.
↑ I will lay down my life. And “although all shall be scandalized in Thee, yet not I!” It was love which prompted St. Peter to speak thus, but he spoke too self-confidently.
↑ Simon, Simon. In order to warn the apostle who, in his self-confidence, forgot his human weakness, our Lord emphasised His warning, by the repetition of the apostle’s name.
↑ As wheat. Wheat is sifted by being shaken and tossed about, and in this way the good grain is separated from the empty husk. In the same way, by temptation and pressure, Satan would upset the apostles, in the hopes of shaking their faith, and leading them to deny our Lord.

[1] “ Little children ". As soon as our Lord was relieved of the presence of the traitor who had given himself over to Satan, He poured forth His loving and fatherly heart to His other apostles, whom He called His “little children”, and spoke to them the striking farewell words which are contained in the chapters of St. John.

[2] I will lay down my life. And “although all shall be scandalized in Thee, yet not I!” It was love which prompted St. Peter to speak thus, but he spoke too self-confidently.

[3] Simon, Simon. In order to warn the apostle who, in his self-confidence, forgot his human weakness, our Lord emphasised His warning, by the repetition of the apostle’s name.

[4] As wheat. Wheat is sifted by being shaken and tossed about, and in this way the good grain is separated from the empty husk. In the same way, by temptation and pressure, Satan would upset the apostles, in the hopes of shaking their faith, and leading them to deny our Lord.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]