Friend, Come Higher | Anita Mathias: Dreaming Beneath the Spires

Peter, from Franco Zeffirelli’s Jesus of Nazareth

“You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter, the rock). John 1:42

Yes, I do know you.
I see you

and know you better than you know yourself.

I know you are friable.

I know you can crumble,

though these things may surprise you.

But your strength shall emerge from the weakness

you shall thoroughly conquer,

and thoroughly renounce.

I am calling you

from being Peter, the impulsive,

to becoming Peter who unshakeably loves me,

who is built rocklike on the bedrock of me.

I am calling you from being a fisherman

to being a fisher of men.

Following my will

will always lead you upward and onward

to a higher place.

Friend, come higher.

Come follow me.