Simon Peter was the last person in the world likely to become the first leader of the Church. He was the type of person who only took his foot out of his mouth to change feet. When Jesus asked Peter if he would leave, Peter prefaced his act of faith with: "Lord, to whom shall we go?" (Jn 6:69) Peter had nowhere to go, so he figured he'd just stay put.
This simple Simon Peter was forgiven his three denials of Christ, met the risen Lord, and was filled with the Holy Spirit. He became a new man. The Lord used him to convert three thousand on the first Pentecost (Acts 2:41). He healed hundreds just by his shadow (Acts 5:15-16). He raised up Aeneas, who was a paralytic for eight years (Acts 9:33).
God still had more for Simon Peter, much more. He was invited to Joppa. The invitation simply reads: "Please come over to us without delay" (Acts 9:38). Possibly Peter didn't even know why he was called. They took him upstairs where he saw several people in tears. Finally Peter got the idea he had been called to raise the dead. He may not have known what to do, but he just copied Jesus when He raised the daughter of Jairus. Peter, like Jesus, told everyone to leave the room and he said, "Tabitha, stand up", instead of "Talitha, get up" (see Mk 5:40-41; Acts 9:40). Simple Simon Peter just changed one letter and raised the dead.
| PRAYER: | Jesus, this Easter transform me as You did Peter. |
| PROMISE: | "This is why I have told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted him by the Father." –Jn 6:65 |
| PRAISE: | Heeding a call from God, Rita and John, a married couple, have been blessed with a healing ministry that has resulted in countless healings. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College