As the weather warms up, I recall the story of two nuns in a market. One spotted beer and said, “Wouldn’t that be a delight?” The second nun answered, “Yes, but I wouldn't feel comfortable buying it since the cashier knows us.” The other nun replied, “Don't worry, let me handle this,” and she picked up a six-pack and approached the cashier.
“We use the beer for washing our hair,” the nun explained. The cashier smiled, put a bag of pretzels with the beer, and said, “Curlers are on the house.” The moral of the story: you can't fool some folks.
The solar eclipse last Monday became a transcendent experience for some people; They were lifted out of themselves into the presence of someone greater than themselves. Though we may seem small compared to the huge sun, and the moon crossing its path, each of us has been created in the image of God; and the purpose of life is to mirror that image or presence of God in our attitudes and behavior. Yes, we are called to be like God and our final goal is to see God as God is.
In the Gospel we hear about the excitement of the two disciples as they tell the other disciples how in the breaking of the bread at Emmaus they recognized with their “eyes of faith” the new, transformed reality of Jesus Christ. As they recount this extraordinary experience, Jesus suddenly appears in their midst, shows them his wounds, and then eats with them.
Yes, God transformed the earthly, crucified Jesus into a new transcendent reality; and so too God will transform us.
The letter of John proclaims we have a Father in heaven and hence we are sons and daughters of God, heirs to his kingdom. Jesus Christ is our advocate, through whom God gifts us with his eternal life. But to participate in God’s life, we must hear and do God’s Word.
In the Book of the Acts, we meet Peter. God gifted Peter with faith and courage so that he could proclaim the good news: that Jesus Christ is “the Holy and Righteous One,” the author of life, the long-awaited Messiah.
Peter concludes: “repent,” refocus your lives upon God, seek forgiveness and mercy, ask for the grace that God’s light may shine through your daily lives.
Though Peter often seemed impetuous, he always was ready to admit a mistake, to make amends. He was someone you could trust. It’s been said, “The true measure of character is what we do when nobody’s watching.”
Leo Tolstoy, the Russian novelist/philosopher, focused on essentials. He noted there are only two important questions in life: what shall we do and how shall we live? I like to think that the apostle Peter would answer, “By being men and women of moral character.”
Men and women of character have a moral compass: an informed conscience. So what is conscience?
Conscience is closely associated with our feelings—we sometimes feel guilty—but conscience is more than feelings. It is a an almost instinctive power of judgment. Within each one of us, there is a tension to choose our better or worse self. Our conscience is a friendly guide in our quest to be true to our better selves.
Now there’s a difference between character and personality. Our personality on the surface puts us in a category: cheerful, moody, and so on. Character, by contrast, is singular: defining who we are at the core of our inmost self. Character is ethical.
Character, by definition, is either good or bad. It manifests itself in choices each one of us must make about the fundamental values or virtues by which we live.
A person of moral character will choose the dignity of the person over impersonal business or material advantage, a respect for human beings over lust for pleasure, power, or personal success.
A person of character will “go the extra mile,” speak up for what is right, defend what is fair, take a stand on principle and conscience—yes, an informed conscience.
Persons of character will not simply “go along to get along.” They will try to choose what is true and good and right in all decisions, small and great, that affect work, relationships, and even leisure time.
Peter invites us to be men and women of character. Although he failed at times, he always picked himself up and started afresh to do the right thing.
Yes, I like to think that the quality of our life and our soul’s destiny will be measured by our character: going the extra mile to help someone in need; being faithful to our promises; working for the common good; trusting in an all good and compassionate God who is ever near to each one of us and who will bring us into eternal life.
May Peter whom we meet today in the Book of the Acts inspire us to be men and women of moral character. Amen.
