St. Benedict Parish in Anchorage shared a note from their pastor about faithful following in the church's Aug. 30 bulletin.

The Rev. Tom Lilly wrote that when Jesus called Peter “Satan,” it was because he was trying to be the head of Christ rather than a faithful follower, which no created being can ever do while being in obedience to God.

“Jesus very directly summed up what was the cause of Peter’s fall: ‘You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do,’" Lilly said in the note. 

"As challenging as that was, Jesus then upped the ante,” the pastor continued.

More than simply following Christ, his disciples must also be willing to die to their own desires, taking up our crosses to follow him.

“We want our friends and family members to be disciples of Jesus. But we cannot be his disciples unless we do what Jesus indicates,” Fr. Lilly said.

If we fail in this call, we too can be an obstacle to Christ rather than the rock that Peter was meant to be.