Quite often in life we are able to obey God and man at the same time; at least there seems to be no conflict in our loyalty to God. But the trouble comes when the values of the world dictate to us one thing, and the demands of God go in the opposite direction. Then what happens? Peter the Apostle faced such a situation. He was pulled in opposite directions, like the way we sometimes find ourselves. However, Peter did what was God's will.

When we are caught in a situation of conflicting loyalties, then we need to remember that we are not the first to be there. It is the price men pay for their moral nature, and the noblest men have paid the highest price. Though "He comes from above", Jesus in choosing to obey and speak the words of the Father, pays the highest price of all.

The Gospel today gives us the perfect basis for our choices ¡K for anyone believing in Him to whom the Father has entrusted everything for eternal life. This was revealed in the Psalms and was realized in Jesus. "Many are the trials of the just man (the one who obeys God) but from them all, the Lord will rescue him" (Ps.34:20). Jesus overcame the world with power which none could rival on earth!