Origen of Alexandria (185-253 AD) was an early Church Father. He was a scholar, an ascetic and a theologian who wrote 2,000 treatises on biblical exegesis, homiletics and spirituality. Origen has been described as “the greatest genius the early Church ever produced.
Origen, suggested that when Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan,” what he actually meant was, “Peter, your place is behind me, not in front of me.
“It’s your job to follow me in the way I choose, not to try to lead me in the way YOU would like me to go.”
Certainly what Jesus said immediately after his rebuke of Peter would support that interpretation. He told all of his disciples, including Peter, that not only did HE have a task that was set before him by God, but that THEY also had work to do.
“Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me,” Jesus said. “Get on this new thrill ride with me. There will be many dangerous twists and turns in the tracks, but I promise you it will never be dull.
“It will mean putting someone other than yourself first, being concerned not so much with what YOU want, but what God wants for you. It won’t be easy and sometimes it won’t be much fun, but it will never be boring.”
Thanks to Origen for these words. Thanks to David Fagundes for the photo.
When someone asks me why I became a priest, my answer is always simple: “I want a life as a Christian that is never boring.” I have never had a boring day in almost 55 years!!
How about YOUR life as a Christian? Have YOU found YOUR life as a Christian to be boring at times? If so, why so? If not, why not
IF IT’S NOT GOOD, GOD’S NOT FINISHED WITH IT YET!!
