21st Sunday of Ordinary Time [A]

 


21ST SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [A] 


In a fable recorded by Aesop we hear about a running race being waged between a tortoise and a hare [a turtle and a rabbit]. The tortoise scores the upset of all upsets by reaching the finish line ahead of the hare. How do we explain such a result? It apparently has something to do with the hare’s attitude. When you are in the grip of pride and the grip of arrogance, this will breed a spirit of over-confidence. You might well figure that the victory will be all the more absolute if you can squeeze in a nap along the way. Unfortunately, the nap becomes an extended nap. And this provides an opportunity for the tortoise to catch up and to prevail. The fable concludes with a time-honored maxim: slow and steady wins the race. 


What has been said about the hare can also be said of the palace steward, Shebna. He only appears briefly in scripture, presented in an unfavorable light by the prophet Isaiah (see 22:15-24). Shebna can be described as vain, as proud, as arrogant—and he can also be described as a loser. He is being declared the loser, by both Isaiah and by the Lord himself. So if we have a loser, does this mean that we likewise have a winner? If so, who would that winner be? Perhaps we should be paying attention to Simon Peter. He certainly comes across like a winner in Matthew chapter sixteen. 


However, the truth is that Peter has not crossed the finish line yet. This episode in Matthew sixteen represents a positive development—but we know that with Peter there’s going to be a combination of positive stages and negative stages. Still, in the end, he will qualify as an actual winner. It’s another instance of slow and steady winning the race. Peter can at times be his own worst enemy. Consider for example, the boast that shows up later on in Matthew twenty six: even if these others disappoint you, I will NEVER disappoint you (26:33)!! And yet, within that  same chapter, he will issue his infamous three-fold denial (26:69-75). 


On the other hand, Peter does himself the ultimate favor by keeping himself in range. Where Judas takes himself out of play (Matt. 27:5), Peter manages to remain very much in play. He’s ashamed, he’s filled with remorse, but he can’t bring himself to part ways with Jesus or with the cause. When he and the risen Christ are face-to-face, the interchange has nothing to do with chastisement or with repercussions. Rather, Jesus allows Peter to make a three-fold profession of love (see John 21:15-19). Peter comes away forgiven, and also empowered. He’s through with disappointing the Lord; now the objective will be to glorify the Lord (see Rom. 11:36). In this sense, Simon Peter can be declared a winner. It’s not pretty, this process through which he reaches the finish line. But it doesn’t have to be pretty. Proceeding slow and steady is enough. Slow and steady wins you the race. 

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