Walk!

When it comes to our faith, especially in this post-Christian world, many of us speak more boldly than we act.

Colloquially, we speak of the difference between “talking the talk” and “walking the walk.”

At the end of today’s Gospel (John 13:21-38), Peter is talking quite boldly indeed.

Lord, why cannot I follow thee now?
I will lay down my life for thy sake.

But our Lord knows Peter’s frailty (I can imagine him speaking to Peter with a sad smile and deeply sad eyes).

Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake?
Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
The cock shall not crow,
till thou hast denied me thrice.

Peter talked the talk, but could not walk the walk – not yet.

Our Lord knows Peter’s frailty, he knows that Peter will deny him, but he also knows that Peter will eventually come through.

Thou shalt follow me afterwards.

Like Peter, we are frail: our actions do not always match our words.

Like Peter, however, we must not despair if we have failed: if we have let fear or selfishness cause us to sin in the things we have done and the things we fail to do.

Following the Resurrection of Christ and the Descent of the Holy Spirit, Peter went on to be a powerful follower of Christ: all the way to his own cross.

By the grace of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, we too can be bold followers of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The way is not shut. We can "walk the walk."

As we reflect once more this week on the events of our salvation – the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ – as we walk beside Christ on the Way of the Cross, we must pray for the grace of comfort in Christ’s forgiveness and the grace of boldness in walking every day of our lives as followers of Christ.