Nero was a spoiled, immature, and vicious Roman emperor. And when his people blamed him for the burning of Rome, he put out the news that the Christians did the evil deed. And so began one of the first persecutions of the Christians. Historians tell us that Nero nailed the leaders of the Christians to crosses lining the streets in his gardens. He poured oil on them and lit them to burn as torches in the night. One leader was not caught, Peter, the head of all the Christians. His people had urged him to flee. And the story goes that the old man was walking on the Apian Way away from Rome when who should he see coming towards him, walking towards the city, but Christ himself, carrying his cross. "Quo Vadis, Domine?" ("Where are you going, Lord?") said Peter. And Jesus said, "Peter, when you abandon my people, I must go and be crucified once more." Ashamed, Peter said, "No, Lord, forgive me. I am a sinful man. I will go and die for the people." And Peter walked back into the city. He died a martyr, crucified upside down by the Emperor Nero.

And so came true the prophecy in the Gospel today of how Peter was to die. He knew Christ, yet he was afraid to die. But when faced with the truth, he accepted the Christian obligation of being willing to die for what he believed. Could we do that? Could we die for Christ? It is so convenient to forget that Christ promised his followers that they would suffer like he suffered. The Gospel holds up the story of Peter as if it was a mirror: What would you be willing to die for? Down the road of our life, Christ is walking towards us carrying the Cross. Unless we have the strength to embrace that Cross, the Lord will pass us by. Unless we have the courage to carry that Cross, Resurrection will be just a dream. Make Resurrection a reality for you; accept the Cross of Christ and share in the new life he gives.