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Far Be It From You, Lord; This Shall Not Happen To You!

Keraza Magazine issue 39-40 October 3, 2014

When Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and rise on the third day, "Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, 'Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!'" (Matthew 16:22). The Lord Christ's response to him was very stern: "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men" (Matthew 16:23), as if Peter was taking the stance of one who objects, rather of one who refuses, to see Christ suffering and wounded.

In truth, St. Peter's stance is the very stance of anyone who denounces and grumbles against the wounds and pains of Christ, with which He was wounded in the house of his friends, that is, His body–the church. This person refuses to see weakness in the congregation of the faithful, with a tongue that cries out to God: "This shall not happen to You! Far be it from You, Lord! Your body shall not suffer bitter jealousy and partiality! Your body shall not be wounded by hatred and envy! Your body shall not be pained by egoism and vainglory!" This rejection comes in colors ranging from angry clamorous objection to annoyed isolation and withdrawal in pain.

Yet, God answers us with all austerity and admonition:

Behold, I stand slain at all times; it is foolish to expect My body at any time without the stigmata of the pain and wounds of the cross! I accepted to be sin for you. At all times, I carry in My body–which is you–all weakness and all sin. Never were my wounds concealed, but were apparent for all on the cross. Do not be troubled by this exposure, assuming the position of judge over each other. Rather, let each one of you remember that as I am wounded by his brother's weaknesses, I am also wounded by his weaknesses! The plank in your eye wounds me more than the splinter in your brother's eye! Peter objected to My words and cut Me off when I said, "I will suffer and be killed," and so he began to rebuke Me. He did not realize that I said, "I will suffer and be killed, and on the third day I will rise." The cross and resurrection are inseparable. My body–which is you–carries all sins and weaknesses, yet simultaneously, stands victorious over all death and corruption. So, why do you see in each other nothing but weakness and death? Why do you grumble against each other? Why do you not see My resurrection and victory in them and in you? This is My true glory in My church, to bring out of the eater something to eat, and to convert the weakness into strength.

If you want to stand at My cross with the Marys, know that I will not reveal to you My wounds, for you to weep over Me, the green wood, but for you to weep over your own wood's dryness! If you want to show Me your love, be like the Good Samaritan when you pass by the wounds of My body–My church. Approach with all humbleness and love to bind My wounds, knowing that while you bind them, you are in truth gaining recovery from the pain and wounds of your own incurable inner person!

Bishop Youssef
Bishop, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States