Barney Fife of the Bible

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up

a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Matthew 17:1-4

Back when there were just 4 channels of TV, re-runs of “The Andy Griffith Show” would come on during the afternoon on the “UHF” band. Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry, NC, and his sidekick- a squirrelly, sad, comical, wiry Deputy Barney Fife (pictured above), kept the town safe.  Barney had a big heart and  the best of intentions. He was mostly harmless, and completely incompetent.  Andy didn’t carry a gun. Barney did, but Andy only let him have one bullet (and Barney had to carry it around in his pocket). Barney loves and worships Andy, loves being a deputy (and most importantly) loves the people of Mayberry. 

St. Peter, like St. Barney, means well, is zealous, loves Jesus, and is a big goof. He is impulsive, says what he thinks, and often is the object of thorough tongue-lashings from Jesus. 

Jesus, Peter, and  others go up to the top of a mountain, and there they meet up with the spirits of Moses and Elijah.  Peter  blurts out the idea that they build three “dwellings” for them. What exactly was he thinking? The plan was boneheaded, very Barney Fife-like, even.  I picture Jesus finishing his little celestial conference, looking at Peter, sighing deeply, maybe even shaking his head, and saying, “Peter, Peter, Peter… Let’s go.” 

Later, as they are walking down the mountain, Jesus quite wisely admonishes his friends “to tell no one.” Peter must have had the hardest time with that order. I can imagine that, for days, he nearly burst apart wanting to tell the story to others.  

Later, Jesus says that Peter is his dude here on Earth- the one who will start his church. Jesus, changed his name from Simon to “Petrus”, (meaning “rock”).One has to appreciate the pun, too. Rocks are solid yet dense- immovable and stubborn, always full of tiny flaws. Peter is, if you have not guessed, our surrogate in the Jesus story, an invitation to be fully human yet also fully invested in the Jesus movement (just like Peter). 

St Peter proves that God not only is empathetic about our humanity- she desires that we embrace it and pursue ministry and love on this earth (however clumsy it might be sometimes). We have wise ones- the Sheriff Taylors of the world- to help us sometimes sharpen our efforts. Peter reminds us that God can take our best intentions, combine them with celestial and divine guidance, and even turn them into her mission here on Earth.