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May 10, 2024Once in a faraway parish there was a parishioner who commented something very lamentable. This person said, “I know your people like to be on their knees.” In the first reading, Cornelius kneels and Peter asks him to get up because he is a man like him. Kneeling can be a sign of reverence and respect to the Lord, but this person thought it was a sign of humiliation. The interaction with Peter should not lead anyone to believe that it’s okay to kneel to another man, but rather it’s meant to emphasis the loving and merciful actions of Peter.
Peter did not treat Cornelius as his subordinate but as his brother. Peter wanted Cornelius to be in the same standing. Peter tells Cornelius to get up and raises him up to be in the same level.
Some people may want people to kneel at their feet as if they were slaves, but they are full of arrogance. Some people are like Peter who want to uphold the human dignity of the
person. Some people like Peter will help others get “on their feet” when they are struggling with many problems. They are willing to lend a hand to restore people who may have fallen to their knees due to their problems. Some people like Peter can strengthen the brothers and sisters who are weak and just need someone “to lean on.” Peter realized he was just a human and God is impartial.
Everybody has an equal dignity before God. Some people take the opportunity to humiliate others when they are struggling, “get them while they are down” type of mentality, may they never suffer the same way. The community of Peter was resistant to accept “these people” as one of them, but the Holy Spirit had the last word. Everybody was renewed and strengthened by the action of the Holy Spirit who fell upon them. As we are in the Easter season, those who live in the Spirit of the Risen Christ, those led by the Holy Spirit, are called not to differentiate and keep people low, but to raise them up to new life in Baptism. Let us see each other’s dignity. Let us treat each other as friends and love one another as Christ
commanded. Let’s restore those fallen and weakened to their feet with loving actions so they too can be strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Great Equalizer.
