Fifth Sunday after Trinity AD 2025

Saint Peter writes in today’s Epistle: “The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers.” In fact, it is a quote from Psalm 34: “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.”

Saint Peter knew how true these words were. But he also knew something else: he knew, he had personally experienced, that contrary to what we as humans would expect, the Lord looks with a gracious, merciful heart even upon sinners and comes to their aid as soon as they cry out to Him in repentance. Peter knew that the Lord hears our heartfelt prayers even when our words say otherwise.

Once Peter had recognized the divine authority of Jesus, “he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Peter’s lips said, “Depart from me!” but his heart cried out, “Do not leave me!” If a sinner is left alone, he will sink and perish, whether he is at sea or on land. Left alone, even the strongest rock falls to dust. The only one who can help and save us is He who hates sin but loves the sinner, and who died to atone for the sins of the whole world.

Peter knew that the Lord had heard his prayer – not the prayer of his lips, but the prayer of his heart. And from the heart of Jesus came words that were not intended just for Peter, but for all of us: “Fear not!” We need not fear, for the Lord has redeemed us. He has called us by name, we are His.