We have countless accounts in the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and the letters that allow us to get to know Peter, this exceptional man–after Jesus, Peter is the person most frequently mentioned in the New Testament. A native of Bethsaida, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Simon–as he was called before his encounter with Jesus–was a man of faith, married, and a simple fisherman, leading an ordinary life, with a hard and demanding job on the Sea of Galilee.
The evangelist Matthew tells us of the moment when Jesus called Peter to follow him: “As he walked along the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers, Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting their nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. He said to them, Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they immediately left their nets and followed him” (Matthew, 4:18–20).
Simon, without hesitation, with generosity and readiness, abandoned his boat and his nets and followed Jesus. From a fisher of fish, he became a fisher of people, in accordance with Jesus’ promise (Matthew, 4:18–20; Mark, 1:16–18). As a sign of this new commitment, Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter, which means “stone” or “rock”-in the Old Testament, a change of name generally signaled the assignment of a mission.
Peter’s life was radically transformed from that day onwards. Filled with hope, he began to accompany the Master and follow Him wherever He went. On this journey of discipleship, he came to know the Messiah through constant companionship, which enabled him to grow in faith and fidelity.
Jesus is present among us and, even today, invites us to follow Him, to live with Him and to love Him, whether in prayer, in fraternal love for one another, through our witness at work, in love for the poor, for those marginalized by society, and for migrants. Following Peter’s example, we too are invited to leave behind our nets, our comforts, our fear of the unknown, and our fear of suffering, and to follow the Lord who longs for us.
A FAITHFUL AND LOVING DISCIPLE
From reading the Gospels, we can see that, following his initial response to Jesus’ call and his decision to follow Him, Peter–despite his weaknesses and mistakes–gradually transformed himself, through his encounters with the Lord, into a disciple, an apostle and a herald of the Good News, and a shepherd of the universal Church.
Peter had a strong personality; he was an impulsive and enthusiastic man, yet he possessed a deep love for the Lord, whom he followed and served with joy. A central figure in many episodes, Peter loved the person of Jesus intensely, even though he was often rebuked by the Master because of his lack of understanding of the true meaning of the Kingdom of God. Recognizing his mistakes and successes, Peter persevered on his journey with the Master, for he knew there was no other way: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God!” (John, 6:68–69).
PROMISE OF FIDELITY
Peter promised absolute fidelity to Jesus, but in his human frailty, he ended up denying him three times. Yet, on those very three occasions, he declared his love for Jesus, the fruit of a process of repentance and conversion: “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you” (John, 21:15–17). Peter fell and erred, but he had the capacity to change and start afresh, for his heart was transformed through following Jesus, through his love and through his forgiveness. And it was because of his faithfulness and love that Jesus gave him the mission to ‘feed his sheep’: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew, 16:18).
After the Resurrection, Jesus appeared to Peter, who was overcome with fear, and asked him three times: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” (John, 21:15–17). Feeling comforted, loved and forgiven, Peter was reaffirmed in his mission.
After Pentecost, Peter, strengthened by the Holy Spirit, gathered crowds and proclaimed the Good News with enthusiasm. Knowing that he could always count on the presence of the Risen One, he spread the love of the Gospel to all peoples. It was in Rome that Peter completed his journey in the service of the Gospel through martyrdom. He asked to be crucified upside down, as he considered himself unworthy to die in the same way as Jesus.
Just like Saint Peter, even amidst the mistakes, falls and discouragements of life, Jesus calls us to follow Him with joy and confidence. Despite our limitations, God is always with us and walks alongside us.
