The Lord said this according to His human nature, for what
need had He as God to ask for anything in prayer? “I have prayed for thee,”
He says, “that thy faith fail not. Though you will be taken for a short
time, you have stored up within you the seeds of faith. Though the wind of the
tempter may tear off the leaves, the root still lives and your faith shall not
fail.” And when thou hast turned back, strengthen thy brethren.
Understand this to mean, “Because I have made you chief of the disciples,
strengthen the others, after you have denied Me and wept and returned in
repentance. This befits who you are: after Me, the rock and firm support of the
Church.” Strengthen thy brethren may also be understood to refer not
only to the apostles of that time, who were indeed strengthened by Peter, but
also to all the faithful until the end of the world.” . . . Here we learn the
lesson that the willingness of man is not a denial without the help of God. For
Peter was abandoned for a short time, he was tripped up by the enemy. By the
same token, the help of God is not enough without the willingness of man. For
Judas received no benefit, although the Lord did everything to gain him,
because Judas lacked a good will and disposition. Therefore let us tremble when
we understand that the plots of the devil prevail over those who are slack. Here
let us behold how Peter, though held by God, was abandoned for a short time in
accordance with God’s economy, and fell away into denial. If he had not been
preserved by God, and if the good seeds of faith had not been stored up within
him, what calamity would he not have suffered? It was the purpose of the devil
to cast even zealous Peter into betrayal; for, as the prophet says, the foods
of the devil are chosen from the finest. Thanks be to God, Who does not abandon
those who are holy, righteous, and have good in their hearts. Such a man was
Peter, full of love, and a stranger to any wicked thought concerning his
Teacher. (Theophylact, The Explanation of the Holy Gospel According to Luke [Blessed
Theophylact’s Explanation of the New Testament 3; Platina, Calif.: St. Herman
of Alaska Brotherhood, 2020], 288-90)
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