Page 39 - laten-08-06-2020

Simon Peter

Representing Vulnerable Community

Matt 26: 31-45; 69-75
Introduction

eter – Simon bar Jonah belonged to Bethsaida, on the western
Pcoast of the Sea of Galilee and was trained to be a fisherman.
Simon peter was a typical Galilean character. Galileans speak a
peculiar dialect which was reckoned harsh in Judea. We know
that Jesus’s ministry was centred around Galilee where Herod
Antipas was tetrarch. Fishing was an important part of the
Galilean economy however, the largest part of the population
is peasant farmers. The domestic economy was always in
tension with the larger political economy. Galilee under the
leadership of Roman client Herod Antipas was a “Aristocratic
Empire” which was very exploitative in nature. The peasants
had no say in the hierarchical control over taxation and they
knew their place in the rigid social hierarchy where all their
produce was mercilessly extracted in the name of taxes. So the
Roman emperors became so wealthy beyond imagination and
the peasants turned poorer and poorer. The fishermen were
the most miserable than any other profession at that time. The
Galilean fishermen were rebellious in nature against the empire
and looked for liberation, yet to come at the same time they
were very afraid of the ruthless nature of the empire.
Jesus’s ministry had its primary audience in Galilean
fishing villages and towns, the huge drawing crowds were
from the regions of Tyre and Sidon because Jesus resided in
Capernaum (a fishing village) during his ministry and travelled
from there. The lives of the fishermen were greatly impacted by
Jesus’s Ministry. While they were looking for a kingly Messiah
who would liberate them from the stronghold of Roman Empire
they found Jesus- who was meek yet powerful.
Matthew 26:31-35,69-75 consists of prophecies of

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Lenten Meditations Re - Imaging People