Rebuke: An Invitation to Return to Safety
By Catherine Gilmore
These days we often use the word rebuke to mean a verbal bashing of sorts, a chewing out, a cruel breaking of someone’s ego. The word rebuke is pretty negative, and I’m sure we all have hurtful experiences of being reprimanded or harshly criticized.
While being rebuked can be painful, when it's done by our Lord it can also be a call to greater union with Him. In my own spiritual life I’ve discovered an invitation to truly meditate on this word which appears repeatedly in the Bible, an invitation I’d also like to extend to you.
I’ve found rebuke to be a way toward Christ rather than merely a harsh reprimand. Some questions that have guided my meditation on rebuke are: What does rebuke really mean? What does it feel like to be rebuked? What do I need to be rebuked by Jesus about? Where have I let the things of the world take the place of Jesus?
My spiritual director gave me some of these questions and pointed me to Mark 8:31-33, the moment where Jesus reveals he must suffer and Peter actually rebukes Jesus! What audacity. To Peter’s rebuke, Mark 8:33 tells us Jesus’ reaction: “At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.’”
My initial reaction to this exchange was one of humility, but I found something rather surprising in my prayer. While Jesus’ rebuke was one of harshness, there was also a righteousness that commanded and provided safety for my tired soul. In an odd way, it actually felt pretty good to be rebuked by the Savior of my soul. I imagined Jesus stepping in front of me, protecting me, and safeguarding me from the world’s tumultuous troubles.
To rebuke someone is to tell them where they belong or to put them back into place. On a human to human level, this can sometimes feel overly harsh or unnecessary but with God, it can be a rightful correction that helps one grow in humility. It can be a remark that reminds us what is wrong and can, therefore, bring us to what is right and true. It is the Divine placing us back into an ordered relationship. This is like the father who is waiting with his little child to cross a busy street. There is safety in standing beside or behind the father, but if the child were to run out in front of the father he could be harmed. In that case, the father’s rebuke is necessary because it would return the child to his rightful place––next to his father. We, as children of God, need to know our places in relation to our infinitely wise Father.
Instead of receiving this needed correction, we often try to elbow in front of Jesus saying, “No, I’m in control. I can do this! I will stand right here because I think that’s what should be done!” and we step out of an ordered relationship. We clench our fists and stick out our elbows and run headfirst into the busy street––right into where the danger is.
When we find ourselves becoming prideful in our actions or succumbing to spiritual danger, we need to let our Savior rebuke us. We need to be put back into our place.
In the Gospel of Mark, Peter attempts to tell Jesus what’s up too. His frail human understanding can’t grasp why Jesus would have to die a shameful death. He tries to take control. He tells Jesus, “No!” He tells Jesus what he thinks is better. And Jesus turns to him and says, “Get behind me, Satan.” He poignantly calls out Peter for stepping out of his place and telling the Lord of the Universe what he thinks is best. Peter was choosing the way of human control and sin––that is, the way of Satan. When we become prideful and put wordly reputations or our own way above God, we are falling for Satan’s temptations.
As I prayed with this passage, I noticed that before Jesus rebukes Peter, he TURNS to him. Jesus doesn’t continue on His way and casually throw the comment over his shoulder; He turns Himself towards Peter. He looks at Peter. He invites Peter to reorient Himself towards God. With a look that I can only imagine as both stern and loving, He puts Peter back where he rightfully belongs. The rebuke is intentional and is supposed to cut directly to the human heart. And, perhaps, in the fruit of accepting this rebuke––of being cut to the heart and reorienting ourselves towards God––we will find a greater peace in His plan.
In my own life, if I am going to be rebuked, I need to let Jesus look at me. I need to feel His powerful protection and sink into His loving gaze. I need to keep my eyes on Him as He puts me back into a place of safety. He will put me in a place where I don’t have to control and struggle and grasp. He will rebuke me and put me in right relationship with Him where I am protected.
In Jesus’ words to Servant of God Father Dolindo Ruotolo, He said, “Why do you confuse yourselves by worrying? Leave the care of your affairs to me and everything will be peaceful. I say to you in truth that every act of true, blind, complete surrender to me produces the effect you desire and resolves all difficult situations” (read more in The Surrender Novena). When Jesus is in front of me, I can breathe deeply, knowing that He is taking the harsh and brutal buffets of the world so that I don’t have to. The pain of the rebuke is for my own safety and spiritual growth. In those moments of uncertainty or confusion, I can open my hands and surrender to Him, because He will take care of all of it for me.
So I ask you to sit for just a quiet moment and ponder the word rebuke. Surrender it all to Jesus. Give Jesus any negative experiences you have had with being rebuked and then meditate on how Jesus rightfully rebukes you. Where in your life do you need to be put back in place? (I’ll be the first to say that, in most areas of my life, I need some serious rebuking). Go to confession and confess those places where you overstepped God and didn’t trust Him.
Reflect: What do you need from the loving Jesus to be rebuked about in order to right your relationship with him, to feel whole and safe?
