LUKE 22:56-62

When a maid saw Peter seated in the light, she looked intently at him and said, “This man too was with Jesus.” But he denied it saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” A short while later someone else saw him and said, “You too are one of them”; but Peter answered, “My friend, I am not.” About an hour later, still another insisted, “Assuredly, this man too was with him, for he also is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “My friend, I do not know what you are talking about.” Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed, and the Lord turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” He went out and began to weep bitterly.

Gospelthink: After saying that he would never deny Jesus, he did it anyway.

After  Paul and Lady Jessica have been accepted by the Fremen, Jessica travels south in Arrakis to unite with the Fremen there while Paul remains in the north. During a raid on a smuggler spice harvester, Paul reunites with Gurney Halleck who shows Paul the hidden atomic warheads of the House Atreides. Meanwhile Feud-Rautha unleashes a devastating attack on the northern Fremen, destroying Sieth Tabr, their former home and forcing Paul and the survivors to journey south. Once there, Paul drinks the Water of Life, and with Lady Jessica and Chani’s help, awakens, possessing unique abilities, leading him to declare himself Lisan al Gaib, the messiah. Paul sees a path to victory among all possible futures, sending a challenge to Shaddam who arrives on Arrakis with the renowned fighters, the Sardauker. The Fremen launch their offensive using atomic power and sandworms to overpower Shaddam and his fighters. Paul challenges Shaddam for the throne and demands to marry Irulan, the eldest daughter or Shaddam, much to Chani’s dismay. Paul defeats Feyd-Rautha who was fighting on behalf of Shaddam. Shaddam surrenders to Paul, but the Great Houses who are in orbit around Arrakis reject Paul’s ascendancy.  So Paul orders the Fremen to attack the orbiting fleet, but Chani continues to refuse Paul’s leadership.

There are many people who might be called “important” in Jesus’s ministry on earth. One of them certainly would be the person whom Jesus appointed as the Rock, upon whom the later Church would be built, namely Peter the Apostle. Peter is an interesting character to study from a number of points of view.  One of them might be his ability to say something that he totally believed in, but because of circumstances, totally changed his mind.  Witness his denial of Jesus.  He must have known what Jesus wanted of him, and he agreed to it, but there were other factors that he had not thought of, and, as a result, changed completely his thinking. 

Becoming the leader of a group might be a great honor and a great achievement, something that one had hoped for, even worked diligently for.  But, more often than not, being a leader will involve responsibilities that the leader had never considered. And, as in Peter’s case, cause extreme self-hatred and embarrassment. 

Paul of the House Atreides in the movie “Dune: Part Two” was destined to be a leader.  He sensed it as he began his life; he continued the thinking as he took up his position with the Fremen of Arrakis; and he culminated such thinking with his aceeptance of the title “Lisan al Gaib,” the messiah, as he defeated Shaddam.  In the process, he lost the love of his life, Chiani, and accepted the responsibility of a people who were on the verge of extinction as the movie ends. 

As we live out our Christian vocation in this world, we are called to be leaders in our own way. No matter what we choose to do in our world, as Christians we accept the responsibility of Christian leadership.  It means doing what we have chosen to do with our lives from the point of view of doing it as best we can from a Christian point of view.  That is, as Jesus would.   

Ultimately, it means that we will do what we are doing well.  And accepting the direction of Jesus given all the circumstances, some of what happens will not be what we hope for or something that we would never choose. 

Our lives are difficult simply because we have chosen a Christian way—some of which we want, some that we would never choose.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, you have called us to be Christian leaders in our world, no matter what our way of life.  Give us the grace to know and accept what Your Son has taught us, even as it brings us to something very difficult.  Be with us, we pray. 

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT
 

Theme: When a person accepts responsibility to lead, that person will have great honor but will have difficulties.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 78 minutes)

1. What scene during this session was most striking and why?

2. Why is Peter the Apostle a good example for us to study?

3. What are some examples of Christians who have said one thing, and then done another?

4. What are the most important characteristics of a leader?

5. In leadership, what makes a leader be a Christian leader?

6. Do you agree that being a Christian in today’s world is difficult?  Yes or no and why?

7. What does the movie “Dune: Part Two” teach young people?

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America