by Marlene Legaspi-Munar

http://www.febc.ph/stations/dzas/protips/index.html

Sa lahat ng mga disipulo ni Jesus, si Pedro ang pinakapopular. In fact, he was the recognized leader among Jesus’ disciples--one of the three members of the inner circle made up of James, John, and Peter himself. Peter was a Galilean fisherman when Jesus called him to be “a fisher of men”. What is so special with Peter that Jesus should call him? Ang totoo si Pedro at ang iba pang tinawag ni Cristo ay mga ordinaryong tao. And like ordinary men, they too have character flaws and failures. Yet Jesus saw their potential. Let’s first take a look at some of the weaknesses and mistakes of Peter.

First, Peter often spoke without thinking. Madalas magsalita si Pedro nang hindi muna nag-iisip. Medyo implulsive, mabilis mag-init ang ulo at minsan ay medyo mayabang. Tulad ng sabihin ni Jesus na iiwan siya ng lahat dahil siya’y papatayin, sumagot si Pedro, “Kahit na po iwan kayo ng lahat, hindi ko kayo iiwan.” But we know that just like the rest, he too left Jesus when he was arrested.

Second, Peter denied, not just once but thrice, that he knew Jesus. Seryoso naman si Pedro sa kanyang intensyon na hindi iwan ang Panginoong Jesus sa panahon ng kagipitan, ngunit nang dumating na ang panahong iyon, nanghina si Pedro at ipinagkanulo niya ang Panginoong Jesus nang tatlong beses.

Third, Peter at times was still afraid of what other people would say. According to Galatians 2:12, Peter ate with Gentile Christians who were not circumcised. But when some circumcised Jewish people came, Peter would not eat with these Gentiles anymore because he was afraid of what the legalists would say.

Sa kabila ng mga naging kahinaan at pagkakamali ni Pedro, pinatawad pa rin siya at tinanggap ng Panginoong Jesus. He was given a second chance, and he used that second chance to love and serve the Lord more fervently and faithfully. He preached the Good News at Pentecost where about three thousand people turned away from their sins and turned to God. He also healed the lame man at the temple. At kahit na pinapatahimik na sila ng Sanhedrin, patuloy pa rin sa pangangaral si Pedro. It was also Peter who reached out to Cornelius who was a Gentile. And he wrote the books First and Second Peter.

The story of the Apostle Peter shows that even when we are unfaithful, God is still faithful. He can restore us and use us again as His instruments to bring more people to Christ. We should not only be enthusiastic, but we should follow through what we have promised. And lastly, it is better to be a follower who sometimes fails than one who fails to follow. Mas mainam maging tagasunod na minsan ay nagkakamali, kaysa tawaging tagasunod pero hindi naman talaga sumusunod.