Ave Maria Meditations
Why St. Peter fell:
Look at little children: they never stop breaking things, tearing things, falling down, and they do this even while loving their parents very, very much. When I fall in this way, it makes me realize my nothingness more, and I say to myself: “What would I do, and what would I become, if I were to rely upon my own strength?”
I understand very well why Saint Peter fell. Poor Peter, he was relying upon himself instead of relying only upon God’s strength. I conclude from this experience that if I said to myself: “0 my God, you know very well I love you too much to dwell upon one single thought against the faith,” my temptations would become more violent and I would certainly succumb to them.
I’m very sure that if Saint Peter had said humbly to Jesus: “Give me the grace, I beg you, to follow you even to death,” he would have received it immediately.
I’m very certain that our Lord didn’t say any more to his Apostles through his instructions and his physical presence than he says to us through his good inspirations and his grace. He could have said to Saint Peter: “Ask me for the strength to accomplish what you want.” But no, he didn’t because he wanted to show him his weakness, and because, before ruling the Church that is filled with sinners, he had to experience for himself what man is able to do without God’s help.
Before Peter fell, our Lord had said to him: “And once you are converted, strengthen your brethren.” This means: convince them of the weakness of human strength through your own experience.
St. Therese of Lisieux
