Text: Saint Matthew 16:21-28

Youngsters in a Religion Class were asked to write a letter to Jesus. One little girl wrote, "Dear Jesus, my name is Karen and her is my picture so you will know what I look like. What do you look like? Can you send me a picture?"

"Blue Collar Christianity" is a book in which the Author gives his version of what Jesus looked like. "Jesus was a blue collar man," he says, "He was a blue collar man, and He calls us to be blue collar people; real, honest-to-goodness blue collar people. He calls us to be hard at work, resolving human conflicts, restoring shattered self-esteem, loving the unlovable, even when no one is watching."

In today's Gospel Reading Jesus says, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). That sounds very much like a blue collar assignment.

Being Jesus' Disciple means that we voluntarily accept the cost of Discipleship, day-in and day-out. We need to remember that there were people who heard Jesus' call to Discipleship who were not willing to pay the price, not willing to report for work every day. People came to Him because they wanted the benefits, they wanted the healing, they wanted the excitement, they wanted the comfort that came with Discipleship. But when they began to make excuses for avoiding the sacrifice, the hard work, the need to carry their crosses, Jesus simply said, "No! This is not for you. You're not ready for this."

No one is forced to become a Disciple of Jesus Christ. You and I are free to accept the call or reject it. But, when we accept it, part of the cost, often the most expensive part, is the matter of following in His footsteps by giving ourselves to others, doing for others, even when it hurts. But, miracle of miracles, we discover in the doing that this way of life (call it "Blue Collar Christianity") is the most glorious life possible. And if some of us are not harvesting the luscious fruit of this good life, it is because we are following Him at too great a distance. Consequently, our view of what the Christian Life is all about remains dim, even grim.

However near or however far from the Lord Jesus we may be at this moment, hopefully we're here today trying to close the gap. Distanced from God there is no true love. Moreover, to truly love God you must be expressing that love in and through your love for other persons, all other persons. Time and again, and in many ways, Jesus said, "You will recognize by their fruits the persons whose faith and trust in God's ways brings them into His Kingdom." You will know them, he said, by the difference this faith and trust has made in the way they live. And because their faith and trust in God has made a difference in the way they live, they are blessed.

"Life with Father" has been called one of the most enchanting comedies ever produced on the Broadway Stage. In the play, there is a heart-warming scene in which 'Father' and his wife 'Vinnie' are having a playful conversation about getting into Heaven. "Getting into Heaven is your job," says Father. "Everybody loves you so much, I'm sure God does too." To which Vinnie replies, "I'll do my best. But it wouldn't be Heaven without you." Father then promises, "If you're in Heaven, Vinnie, I'll manage to get in some way , even if I have to climb the fence."

Our job is to rise above the man-made barriers that stand between us and the members of the human family. Our job is to climb over the fence we've built around our hearts. There are times, as we well know, when we fall down on the job. But the Lord never gives up on us, just as He never gave up on the Apostle Peter who fell down on the job time-after-time. Do you remember the Gospel episode in which Jesus asked the Disciples, "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:15). It is then that Simon Peter has one of his finest hours; and, one of his worst. At this point in the Gospel, no one has openly acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah. It is Simon Peter who blurts out his answer: "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." This evokes much praise from Jesus. Peter reminds Him of hard rock. "You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church," Jesus says, "I will give you the keys of the
Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 16:16,18,19). It is Peter's finest hour.

But as someone once said, "Peter was not yet a stable rock. He was the rock that moved. He fell, he faltered, he failed, he shifted, he made mistakes." And, in that very rewarding moment with Jesus, he made a big one, as we learn in today's Gospel Reading: Matthew tells us that "From that time, Jesus began to make it clear to His Disciples that He was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously. To be put to death and to be raised up on the third day." Then Peter started to quarrel with Him, saying, "God forbid that any such thing happen to you. Whereupon, Jesus severely reprimanded Peter, saying, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." Peter was right there with the Master, pledging His loyalty and support to the death. But Jesus knew his man. He looked him in the eye and said, "Peter, by the time the cock crows you will have denied me three times" (Luke 22:34). And it happened! Three times Peter denied that he even knew Jesus.

This was Simon Peter, a strong man, a weak man; a solid rock, and a rock that moved. But that is not the whole story, because God never gave up on Peter. In the end, Peter himself was crucified, head down, because of his extreme fidelity to Jesus Christ and the cause of Christ. There is much of Peter in each one of us. We have come here today as people who intend to live a good life. We want to be Christ's women and men. We honestly have good intentions about changing our ways for the better. There is a rock-like reality in us down at the center. But, like Peter, we are rocks that move. We fail, we fall, we falter, we make mistakes, we hurt other people, often the people we love most.

We talk about Christian love, and we mean to love, but how we fail! You stumble, I stumble, you fall, I fall, but God never gives up on US! God is always there, ready to pick us up, if only we repent. If only we will change. Repentance takes you beyond good intentions. Repentance is the process of actually becoming the person God wants us to be. Only the Power of God was great enough to do this for Simon Peter. And the power of God can do the same for you and for me. No need to sit there turning yourself over the coals and blaming yourself over-and-over again for your failures and your misdeeds. The forgiveness, the healing, the New Life is here and it will change everything for you - if only you will open yourself up to receiving the Resurrection Power of a Loving God.

Are we going to Heaven? I sure hope so! Why? Because, It Wouldn't Be Heaven Without You!

Thanks be to God!!!!! Amen !!!