Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 131​

He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

Like millions of others, Catholic and Protestant, I have been deeply shaken by the continuing scandal of clerical abuse of children and the subsequent, criminal cover-up by bishops. The revelations have finally, perhaps inevitably, reached even the papacy; Pope Francis has been implicated by at least one cardinal.

But it was precisely to shelter us from scandal that this criminal conspiracy was conceived. Knowing that we would be shaken by this horrible story, church authorities colluded with civil authorities to cover it up. Offending priests were transferred from one parish to another, and even to foreign missions, and silence prevailed. We "little ones" continued to live quiet desperation in the blissful confidence that all is right with the Church.

I assume the bishops had no overtly criminal intent. They did not believe children should be molested; they did not intentionally support the pervert priest. In some cases they heard his remorse and believed his declared intention never to do it again. In other cases they trusted the professionals who confidently hoped the offender had been "cured" of his "illness." 

In most cases, like most people, they could not imagine the full, diabolical dimensions of sexual abuse of children. They knew nothing of its immediate horror, its crippling affects on the victim's sexuality, and the lifelong effects of that trauma. It was beyond their imagination and experience. Amid all the celebrations of sexual freedom in a pseudo-liberated society, the terrifying dimensions of this intimate mystery have been dismissed, ignored and often ridiculed. 

Mostly the bishops hoped the cover up would protect the gullible faithful who could not bear to know the truth. But by so doing they also protected themselves. They avoided the sensation of a priest arrested, arraigned, in shackles, on trial and imprisoned, perhaps for life. District attorneys, needing Catholic support to stay in office, were also happy to have the offenders removed -- out of sight, out of mind. Why bother the sheep with matters they don't understand?

Of course some people knew what was going on. There were whispers. When my mother was a girl, she and the other children would play during recess. Occasionally their recreation was cut short. As soon as the priest stepped out of the rectory, Sister rang the bell and the children filed back into class. The children were safe; the convent did what they had to do. Parents knew, the police knew; the bishop knew. They all agreed nothing else could or should be done. His Mass was valid; the Sacrament was efficacious; this too shall pass.

In today's gospel, Peter urged Jesus to suppress his bad feeling about this trip to Jerusalem. Wasn't this a cover up? 

First, we can suppose, the Apostle didn't believe things would turn out so badly. There might be problems in Jerusalem but God will intervene. He will see you through! Just believe! Things are never as bad as they seem!

Secondly, he felt a Big Brotherly concern about the other, lesser disciples. They might be discouraged if they thought the Master himself had misgivings about what might happen. As the Leader and Spokesman of the disciples, Peter felt authorized to protect his little buddies. He was not prepared for what happened next:

"Get behind me, Satan.

You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

There is nothing secret about the crucifixion of Jesus. The scandal is deep; bone-deep, soul-shattering deep. As the prophet Zechariah predicted and Jesus foresaw, the sheep were scattered. Saint Mark said, "They all deserted him and fled."

On his way to Calvary Jesus would take no shortcuts. He made salvation easy for no one; he pitied no one's desperate life. To walk with him is to expect disappointment, failure and catastrophe. Like the Gospel, life is hard, even desperate at times. Very often the "little ones" -- like my mother's teachers in the 1930's -- know life is cruel. It's the leaders who think, "This must not be! Not on my watch! I can make it easier; I can save them." when they are only saving themselves.

Saint John tells us when the disciples heard the doctrine of the Eucharist, some were scandalized, "This is too hard. Who can believe it?" Eat my flesh? Drink my blood? Cannibalism? They walked away.

This scandal is similar. Many people will follow their "common sense" as they leave the Church. If the Message of Christ can fail so catastrophically with priests, if bishops can be so obtuse before this horror, why should i expect it to save me?

Watching them leave Jesus asked, "Will you also leave?"

Our brother Peter again spoke for us when he replied, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”