There’s a way of coming at our Christian faith that links it with perfection. And that’s because, of course, it centers around the Lord Jesus who embodies that perfect faith. This is right in that it puts the focus on the one who lived out a human life that in God’s eyes is ideal.

Holding up the finest has value in that it keeps our eyes on the goal, on the standard against which to measure ourselves. But as we followers also come to know, there’s a downside to focus on perfection. This leads to self-disappointment when we don’t meet our ideals. It’s at such a time that encouragement can come not so much from the saints but from the sinners, not from the ones who lived the life perfectly but from those who have stumbled along their way.

If there’s a model for this faltering style, St. Peter is the one. In Matthew’s 16th chapter, he is presented as anything but consistent and perfect. When the others miss the point answering Jesus’ question, “who do people say the Son of Man is,” Peter gets it exactly right. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” It’s the perfect response to Jesus’ question. And in admiration, Jesus goes on to call him The Rock.

But reading just a little further, we hear this same Rock telling Jesus to give up his intent to suffer, die and rise for the benefit of us all. The Rock here has turned into a stumbling block. Later at the Last Supper, he will loudly profess his faith, but in just a few short hours he will outright deny that he even knows Jesus.

In our own faith journeys Peter may be more helpful to us in his weakness than in his strength. We profess our faith – and then we fail. We get up — and then we fall again. Peter can encourage us to keep on going. At his own martyrdom, even with his mistakes, he comes through to confess his Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

The faith life of most everybody is not a steady state progression. Expecting it to be so can undercut its flourishing. This Rock of the Church, Peter, falls and rises, weakens and then regains strength — all in the up-and-down, years-long process of trying to follow behind his Master. Exclusive emphasis on perfection can waylay the journey by setting an unreal goal, one which in its very loftiness can trip up and discourage the believer.

In a variation on this, Vincent cites the stumbling block of illusory prayer.

There are many who, if they have a recollected exterior, and an interior filled with lofty feelings about God, rest there; but when it comes to deeds, and there is need for action, they stop short. They flatter themselves by the warmth of their imagination; they rest content with the sweet discourses they have with God in prayer… but apart from this, should there be question of working for God, of suffering, of self-mortification, of instructing the poor… alas! they are no longer to be found.

(Volume: 11 | Page#: 32-3) Love of God added on 6/28/2011