Bishop Peter: share the Good News of Jesus’ unconditional love with courage

Members of the Treasure Valley Teens for Life present the gifts during the offertory to Bishop Peter Christensen and Father Germán Osorio, rector at the Cathedral. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham)

By Emily Woodham

Staff Writer

The needs of the world are numerous, and none is more pressing than protecting the dignity of human life.

“There’s a great deal more healing that needs to take place in our world at this time,” Bishop Peter Christensen said in his homily for the Mass for Life on Jan. 24 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise. More than 600 attended.

“Our world needs greater peace, hope, unity and love,” he said. “Our world needs prayer. We pray especially for the protection and the respect of all human life, for each and every life is precious in the eyes of God.”

More than 600 attended the Mass for Life. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham)

Although the world is struggling with so many things, there is also a movement of renewed faith, Bishop Peter continued.

“Something is going on in our world. There’s a darkness that I haven’t seen before in 73 years of life, but there’s also a light that is coming,” he said with encouragement.

This light is a renewal of faith, which is a sign that “a new day is dawning,” Bishop Peter said, adding that at the Cathedral, a record number of 120 people are preparing to enter the Church on Easter Vigil through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA).

St. Paul’s Student Center at Boise State also has the most they have seen in OCIA in its history. They have 35 people who are planning to become Catholic this Easter. This renewal of faith “is happening all over the country, all over the world.”

“However, many people remain who have been numbed by a mundane and hopeless understanding of life, in which life holds little value,” Bishop Peter explained. “They see this life on a two-dimensional level without much purpose or value. Each of us needs to be courageous in spreading the news of the Kingdom of God among us.”

It is through spreading the Gospel that people “will come to see their own value as created in the image and likeness of God, that the God of the entire universe is their loving Father,” he continued. “If people truly value their lives as unique and precious in the eyes of God, they would never even consider taking the life of another.”

Sharing a story from his time in seminary, Bishop Peter highlighted the importance of considering what is truly worth dying for. When he was struggling with several difficulties at seminary, he went to speak to his pastor about the things that were bothering him. His pastor told him: “Peter, not everything in life is worth laying down your life for. Can you name just a few? Those things you have strong conviction about. Think about it.”

After considering the question, Bishop Peter realized he was willing to lay down his life for the protection of human life and for the Eucharist.

Bishop Peter greets Zane and Isabelle Pulver, who presented roses to the Blessed Virgin Mary. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham)

"I believe a child in the womb is a human being, needing protection in life,” he said. “I’m also convinced of the importance of the Eucharist. I saw then, as I do now, that the Eucharist is our faith in Jesus Christ and his Church. The Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ. It is the faith of the Church that Jesus is here. I would lay my life down for that.”

Bishop Peter asked the congregation to consider the same question.

“What is the most important thing in your life that you would lay down your life for it? You can think about them in the days to come. Being focused on just two has helped me to be a lot less petty– that was brilliant of my pastor. Stop worrying about the little things. You’re giving way too much energy to those things that don’t matter. What really matters? What would you give your life for?”

Bishop Peter used the life of St. Peter, who gave his life for Christ and the Church, to illustrate the power of God’s love to transform us and the world. In the Gospel reading from John 21:15-19, the Risen Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. The first two times, Jesus uses the Greek word agape for love. Agape means a sacrificial,

unconditional love. Peter says he does love Jesus, but each time he replies with phileo. Phileo means a friendly, brotherly love between people who have similar interests.

The third time that Jesus asks Peter, he uses phileo, just as Peter used. “Jesus has switched it up,” Bishop Peter said. “Jesus never rejects Peter’s love. He’ll take the love he has to offer and grow it into agape love over time, as he does with each of us.”

Although Peter confessed only a phileo love for Jesus each of the three times he was asked, Jesus ended each exchange with commands: “Feed my lambs,” Tend my sheep,” and “Feed my sheep.” He entrusted Peter with care for the Church, knowing that at Pentecost Peter’s love would be transformed.

“Just 50 days after the Resurrection, the disciples are gathered back in the upper room, and the Holy Spirit is poured down upon them. It is at this point filled with the Holy Spirit that Peter is also filled with agape love for Jesus. Peter is no longer afraid. He’s no longer guarded, calculating his relationship with Jesus. He’s all in.”

Peter immediately preached the Gospel to the crowd of thousands that were gathering near the apostles after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Because of Peter’s courageous witness, about 3,000 were baptized that day.

“What happened to the betrayer? Peter figured out how much the Lord really truly loved him. Peter takes the grace of that love and incorporates it into his own mind and heart and being. Peter, is ready with agape love for the Lord, that unconditional, selfless, sacrificial love, a love that is willing to give all of one’s self for the other, which Peter certainly did.”

Bishop Peter gives the final blessing at the Life Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham)

“We need to be courageous in spreading the Good News of our Lord’s agape love for others, by our words and our actions,” Bishop Peter continued. “If we do so, abortion will be no more.”

“Let us follow Jesus above all else, for Jesus truly is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. May we join his mission, may we follow Him. The Lord hears our prayers. He hears you; he knows your heart; he loves you; he’s with you. Do not be afraid. He will direct you to all that is right and true.”